The Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Organisation has announced that 14 individuals, including players and team staff members from seven different teams, have admitted to online casino gambling. This revelation follows an internal investigation initiated by the NPB to uphold Japan’s stringent gambling regulations. Although there was no evidence that they had wagered on baseball games, the occurrence raises concerns about ethical practices and the reputation of professional sport.
Gambling laws in Japan are stringent, with limited exceptions such as horse racing, bicycle racing, and government-sanctioned lotteries. Unauthorised gambling, including online casino betting, is considered illegal. The three-year statute of limitations applies, meaning that authorities can pursue legal action within this period.
The NPB conducted a comprehensive investigation among its 12 professional leagues to identify any staff engaged in online gambling. The NPB gathered information by interrogating all staff from its member clubs, including players, managers, coaches, and support staff. The 14 staff members admitted to participating in gambling after February 2022. The organisation did not reveal the names of the staff, or the teams involved but left it to individual teams to take disciplinary actions accordingly.
NPB Secretary General Katsuhiko Nakamura emphasised that the organisation regards these incidents as serious. According to him, each team was tasked with addressing the matter appropriately, by verifying information, consulting the police, or subjecting the guilty parties to penalties.
Nakamura said, “We take this situation very seriously and will take firm action.”
A crucial aspect of this case is that no reports suggest any of the 14 individuals bet on baseball games. This distinction is significant, as gambling on one’s sport can have severe consequences, including lifetime bans. The NPB reassured fans and stakeholders that baseball’s integrity remains intact.
One publicly known case is that of Orix Buffaloes pitcher Taisuke Yamaoka. The team suspended Yamaoka after discovering his participation in an online poker tournament hosted by an overseas gambling site. He is currently cooperating with the Osaka prefectural police. Although the NPB has not disclosed detailed punishments, teams can impose suspensions or fines, or even contract cancellations depending on individual cases.
To prevent such cases in the future, the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association and NPB intend to institute educational programmes. These programmes will provide players and staff with information about the ethical and legal concerns of gambling.
In 2015, a gambling scandal hit the Yomiuri Giants, leading to the indefinite suspension of three players. The scandal highlighted the severe repercussions of illegal gambling among professional baseball players.
Recently, Major League Baseball was hit by a scandal involving Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara was indicted by U.S. authorities for stealing money from Ohtani’s accounts to pay off illegal online sports gambling debts. He pled guilty to the charges and received a 57-month prison sentence. Additionally, Mizuhara was ordered to pay $17 million (2.54 billion yen) in restitution to Ohtani and a $1 million fine to the Internal Revenue Service.
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