Online Casinos in Japan Use Anime Domains

On December 10, the Tokyo-based animation studio Asahi Production warned about the discovery of a fake website for its anime title “Onsen Yosei Hakone-chan” (2015), which is being used by unknown parties to promote illegal iGaming operators.

Fake Website of the Onsen Yosei Hakone-chan Anime

The case involves an unofficial website for the “Onsen Yosei Hakone-chan” anime that visually imitates the original resource.

Use of the Site to Promote Casinos

According to the studio, the site is being used to advertise illegal iGaming operators.

Domain History According to Otaku Souken

As reported by Otaku Souken, the project’s original domain was abandoned in 2019.

Resale of the Domain to a Third Party

In 2021, the domain was acquired by a third party from the city of Kumamoto.

Other Cases of Anime Domain Takeovers

Similar methods had previously been used to take over domains of official websites of other projects.

Anime and Game Projects

These include the anime “Kaitou Reinya” (2010) and “Rokka no Yuusha” (2015).

The domain of the mobile game “Blue Reflection Sun”, which was shut down in 2024, was also taken over.

Warning From Asahi Production

At the time of publication, the fake websites remain active.

Risks for Users

The studio warns of the risk of personal data theft when registering on such websites.