Two bookmakers who set up computers at their betting shop to allow customers to gamble illegally over the Internet have been arrested, police said.

On Friday evening, police raided a bookmaker called "Passion," located in Fukuoka's Hakata-ku, and arrested two employees, aged 33 and 24, on suspicion of habitual gambling.

Investigators are also questioning the 28-year-old manager of the establishment, who faces arrest if suspicions against him are confirmed. Four customers, including a 36-year-old public servant from Iizuka, Fukuoka Prefecture, were also arrested, but later released to undergo voluntary questioning.

Police accuse the 33-year-old and 24-year-old suspects of illegally allowing customers to gamble over the Internet on 13 computers set up at the establishment. Police suspect the pair used overseas Web sites that did not place restrictions on gambling.

The betting shop began operating in May 2005, and reportedly raked in takings of about 2 million yen a day.
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