The Nippon Professional Baseball logo.
OSAKA — Some players from a professional baseball team have admitted to gambling on an online casino, following the revelation that Orix Buffaloes pitcher Taisuke Yamaoka had gambled online, which is illegal in Japan.
A source close to the other team revealed to the Mainichi Shimbun Feb. 26, “The number (of players involved in online gambling) is not that large, but some have acknowledged involvement.”
After receiving a tip about Yamaoka’s online casino use, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Feb. 17 requested the Buffaloes to investigate. Since Yamaoka admitted to the allegations, the team announced Feb. 21 its finding and that the pitcher was ordered to refrain from baseball activities for the time being. On Feb. 20, NPB called on all teams to encourage players, coaches and other personnel to voluntarily come forward if they had engaged in online gambling.
According to the Buffaloes, while Yamaoka was unaware that his actions could be illegal, he had participated in a poker tournament hosted by a website with casino licensing overseas. NPB also clarified that the online casino where Yamaoka played did not involve betting on baseball or other sports.
Under the “baseball agreement,” which serves as the constitution of Japanese professional baseball, gambling on the sport is strictly prohibited. Violators face disqualification from the professional leagues.
(Japanese original by Koichi Ogino, Sports News Department)