Osaka Prefecture and the developers of MGM Osaka, Japan’s first integrated casino-resort, have warned the public to avoid gambling sites claiming to be affiliated with the project.
Work is currently underway at MGM Osaka, a joint project spearheaded by the domestic construction giant Orix Corporation and the US-based casino operator MGM Resorts International.
The casino is set to open in 2030.
However, the developer teamed up with Osaka Prefecture last week to issue a joint statement denying the sites have anything to do with MGM Osaka, reported the Japanese newspaper Fukui Shimbun.
“MGM Osaka does not provide, promote, or advertise online casinos in any way,” the parties said in their statement.
Bogus MGM Osaka Sites Use AI-Generated Text and Images
CasinoBeats discovered several very similar-looking sites claiming to be affiliated with MGM Osaka during a web search using common Japanese keywords.
The sites all used URLs that featured words such as “MGM,” “casino,” “Osaka,” “Japan,” and “Tokyo.”
They also make heavy use of gambling-themed AI-generated art and text that a native Japanese speaker told CasinoBeats looked “a lot like the work of AI software.”
The sites all feature links to online casino games, including slots and baccarat.
“We are MGM Osaka,” reads the text on one landing page. “Fueled by the vibrant spirit of Osaka, we aim to provide an exciting gaming experience for a diverse range of players.”
Online casinos are illegal in Japan. And, under the nation’s strict gambling laws, even accessing an overseas-based gambling site from Japanese soil can land a resident in jail.
Regardless, the bogus sites claim to hold licenses in Curaçao, a Dutch territory known for issuing licenses to online casino sites.
The sites all claim to offer access to around “2,000 to 2,500 casino games.”
They claim to allow bettors to place bets using Japanese yen and cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether’s dollar-pegged stablecoin USDT.
Additionally, they claim to provide Japanese language support “during peak hours.”
MGM Osaka and prefectural officials warned citizens to stay away from the websites. They claimed that accessing them “may lead users to overseas online casinos.”
Prefectural police officials warned: “Accessing these sites from Japan is illegal, as is placing bets on associated platforms.”
IR Projects: Public Pushback
The developers added that the sites are “using the name of MGM Osaka without permission.”
“Please note that these websites are not affiliated with Osaka IR or MGM Osaka in any way,” they concluded.
The central government wants two more Japanese prefectures to build IR projects. But many governors have distanced themselves from IR plans.
Would-be developers have faced pushback from anti-gambling groups who claim casinos will drive up betting-related crime rates.
The sole exception remains the central Aichi Prefecture. Aichi officials are currently searching for partners and hope to build an IR next to the region’s busiest airport.
Aichi’s Governor, Hideaki Omura, has claimed the project would help turn the prefecture into an “international tourism hub.”
Business leaders in Osaka have also talked up the IR project, insisting it will help turn the city into a major entertainment destination.
