4 Japanese pro baseball players face probe for illegal online gambling
Japanese police have referred four Saitama Seibu Lions baseball players and one club official to prosecutors for alleged illegal online gambling. The players named are Tonosaki Shuta, Tsuge Sena, Kodama Ryosuke and Hasegawa Shinya.
Investigators say they used smartphones and other devices to access online casino websites and placed bets, which is illegal under Japanese law.
The Saitama prefectural police began their probe after being contacted by the baseball club. Police questioned the five voluntarily.
Club issues apology
The Saitama Seibu Lions acknowledged the incident and apologised. In a statement, the club said: “We apologise and regret that the club failed to ensure its players understood that online gambling is illegal.”
The club added: “The five deeply regret they used casino websites out of curiosity and agreed to pay a penalty imposed by the club.”
Crackdown on online gambling
This case comes as Japan’s parliament recently passed a bill to tackle illegal online gambling. The law bans advertising for online casinos, including banner ads, ranking lists, and affiliate links that lead people to offshore gambling sites. The revised law will come into effect in September and aims to raise public awareness that gambling on overseas platforms is illegal.
According to a police survey conducted in March, around 3.37 million people in Japan have gambled on online casino sites, spending about ¥1.24 trillion ($8.7 billion) annually.
While some gambling — like betting on horse or boat races — is allowed in Japan, online casino gambling is illegal even if the sites are licensed overseas.
The National Police Agency (NPA) says only 40% of people who use online casinos know it is illegal, especially those in their twenties.
Steps to tackle online gambling
The NPA is stepping up efforts to educate the public and stop illegal gambling. The agency will:
- Ask internet service providers and social media companies to remove illegal gambling content.
- Prepare guidelines to identify illegal promotions.
- Inform talent agencies that appearing in online casino ads may count as “abetting gambling.”
- Print 100,000 leaflets and use stadiums and public venues to share awareness videos.
The NPA also requested overseas licensing bodies in places like Curacao, Canada, and Malta to restrict access for Japanese users and warn them that using these sites is illegal.
Officials say that as more people switch to real-money gambling, new legal and technical tools may help reduce access to offshore sites. However, the Ministry of Communications is debating the privacy impact of blocking such websites.
Future measures
The new law and crackdown come before the opening of Japan’s first integrated resort, MGM Osaka, due in 2030. Experts say other integrated resort sites are unlikely to progress anytime soon.
As the government continues its strict stance, it hopes to curb illegal betting and protect Japanese citizens from gambling addiction.
