In Japan, a 49-year-old YouTuber named Shoichi Fujino has been handed a suspended prison sentence of one year for livestreaming online gambling content between April 2022 and February 2024. Despite having amassed 124 thousand subscribers, Fujino's actions violated Japanese law, which strictly prohibits gambling and its promotion, with exceptions for betting on horse races and motor competitions.
Fujino reportedly earned around $1.6 thousand per month through his YouTube channel, where he streamed gambling content. It's alleged that he received significant sums, estimated between $13-19 million over six months, from casino operators as compensation for attracting new players to their platforms.
After fleeing to Thailand following the arrest of another streamer, Fujino was detained upon his return to Japan. At the time of his apprehension, he had incurred losses totaling approximately $514 thousand.
