Japan warned against fake sites on the grounds that they are falsely claiming ties to the upcoming MGM Osaka integrated resort, because it seems these sites have been used to route local players to illegal offshore gambling operators.
The Osaka Prefecture and the developers behind the MGM Osaka project issued a joint statement asserting that the future resort has no relation to the online gambling sector and neither operates, promotes, advertises, nor endorses in any aspect online casino services.
This warning was issued after numerous Japanese-language websites started construction and used domain names that blended “MGM,” “Osaka,” “Japan,” and “casino,” potentially misleading consumers into believing they are officially affiliated with Japan’s first integrated resort.
Unauthorized websites claim to offer slots and baccarat among their online casino games and access to thousands of titles, among others, according to local reports.
Officials said the sites were created to direct Japanese users to offshore gambling platforms. Reportedly, they are supposed to offer services in Japanese, take deposits in yen and cryptocurrencies, and say they operate with licenses from Curaçao.
Residents were urged to be cautious and check for legitimacy for any website making claims of association with MGM Osaka or Japan’s emerging integrated resort sector.