MGM Osaka, Japan Authorities Issue Warning Over Casino Impersonation Scams

• MGM Osaka Corporation is warning consumers about fraudulent websites falsely claiming to offer legal online casino gambling in Japan
• The company stresses that online casino gambling remains illegal in Japan and that any website promoting online gaming under the MGM Osaka brand is not affiliated with the resort
• MGM Osaka, a $7.85 billion integrated resort being developed on Yumeshima Island, remains under construction

MGM Osaka Corporation is warning consumers in Japan about fraudulent websites impersonating its forthcoming Yumeshima Island integrated resort by falsely claiming that online casino gambling has been legalized throughout the country.

MGM Osaka recently issued a notice advising the public to be aware of fake websites advertising illicit online gambling with the casino’s likeness.

We have confirmed the existence of fake websites that are using the name of MGM Osaka Corporation without authorization. These sites have absolutely no connection to our company and are not operated by or associated with us,” the notice read.

MGM Osaka says its official, and only, website is mgmosaka.co.jp. In Japan, online casino gambling is illegal. It’s also a crime to advertise or promote such operations.

MGM Osaka is a joint venture between Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International and Japanese financial conglomerate Orix Corporation. Each company holds a 43.5% position, with the remaining shares held by a 22-entity consortium that includes Panasonic, Kansai Electric, and West Japan Railway.

Offshore Casino Marketing 

The fraudulent websites impersonating MGM Osaka and illegally targeting Japanese players on social media are almost certainly operating from overseas. Known as offshore platforms, these enterprises secure interactive gaming licenses from small island nations and territories to target high-value Asian markets like Japan and China.

While many of these operators claim legitimacy under their foreign licenses, gambling on an offshore website is a strict criminal offense under Japanese law. Furthermore, Japan’s National Police Agency has significantly intensified its domestic enforcement ahead of a sweeping September 2026 anti-online-gambling law, actively prosecuting local bettors.

Beyond the legal risks, consumers participating in offshore markets expose themselves to major data security threats and loosely regulated fair-play standards.

“In the event that you become a victim of fraud or notice any suspicious activity, please contact your nearest police station or relevant authorities immediately,” MGM Osaka stated in its public advisory.

Mainstream hubs fueling these unapproved operations historically include Curaçao, Malta, Panama, Costa Rica, and Anjouan.

MGM Osaka

MGM Osaka, the only casino so far authorized in Japan, is targeted to open in the fall of 2030. A ¥1.27 trillion (US$7.85 billion) investment, the integrated resort complex will occupy more than 120 acres on the man-made Yumeshima Island.

The plan includes approximately 2,500 hotel rooms, extensive MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) facilities, a retail shopping mall, waterfront attractions, a public park, and various public transportation connecting the island to the wider Kansai region.

As for the casino, the latest disclosure includes more than 6,000 slot machines and almost 500 live dealer table games.

MGM Osaka will open with a monopoly on casino gambling in Japan, but the country is expected to conduct a second bidding round in the coming years. Japan’s 2018 gaming law allows for up to three integrated resort casinos.