Unauthorized online gambling remains an issue for professional baseball in Japan, the nation's most cherished and favored sport.
The scandal has shaken Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the premier level of professional baseball in the Land of the Rising Sun. In February, 14 NPB players confessed to engaging in online casino games while being aware that these internet sites are unlawful and function without oversight from foreign, offshore nations.
This week, four members of the Saitama Seibu Lions, a Pacific League team in the NPB, faced accusations of unlawful online gambling. The mentioned players were Shuta Tonosaki, Sena Tsuge, Ryosuke Kodama, and Shinya Hasegawa.
The Saitama Prefectural Police initiated an investigation into the off-field conduct of the four players following a tip-off from the team to the authorities. A team staff member, in addition to the four players, was discovered to have placed illegal online wagers.
In a statement, the Saitama Seibu Lions mentioned that the five individuals involved in online gambling have shown “deep remorse” for their behavior and have consented to pay a fine set by the club. There was no proof that the few placed wagers on sports or compromised the integrity of the NPB.
The Lions rank as one of the NPB’s most victorious teams, boasting 13 Japan Series championships. Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka stands out as the most prominent Lion alum who achieved a successful career in Major League Baseball.
Japan Sphere
Japan's professional baseball sector persists in addressing cases of players breaching gambling regulations. The Japanese people's love for gambling continues even after star players and their entourages move to the major leagues in the United States.
No account has received more attention than the multimillion-dollar sports betting controversy involving Ippei Mizuhara, the longtime translator for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. In March 2024, Mizuhara was dismissed by the team following allegations of embezzling over $16 million from Ohtani to support his sports betting habit.
Federal prosecutors uncovered no proof that Ohtani, MLB’s current three-time MVP, five-time All-Star, and 2024 World Series Champion, was aware of Mizuhara’s activities or engaged in sports betting personally. In February, Mizuhara received a sentence of 57 months in prison along with three years of supervised release.
Recently, the NPB in Japan directed its teams to perform internal evaluations to find out if any players or team personnel had engaged in illegal gambling. The NPB also urged franchises to offer educational training outlining what players and staff can and cannot engage in regarding gambling.
Unauthorized online betting extends beyond professional baseball in Japan. Japanese individuals are believed to have wagered $45 billion online in the past year.
Gambling in Japan
Gambling is prohibited in Japan, with the sole exceptions being the government-operated lottery, sports betting, and parimutuel betting on horse racing and motorsports. Pachinko is still categorized as a form of entertainment, even though players can earn money.
Japan is currently in the process of liberalizing casino gambling, with MGM Resorts and Orix Corporation beginning the development of MGM Osaka, a nearly $9 billion project on Yumeshima Island.
Japanese individuals will have the opportunity to gamble at MGM, but they must pay a ¥3,000 (US$21) entry charge. Osaka residents will see their entry fee increased, aimed at using the admission charge to curb gambling issues.
All types of online betting continue to be banned in Japan.
