The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department headquarters is seen in this file photo. (Mainichi/Kenji Yoneda)
TOKYO — The Metropolitan Police Department sent documents on Yomiuri Giants baseball players Louis Okoye and Daiki Masuda to public prosecutors May 8 over suspicion of illegal online casino gambling, investigative sources told the Mainichi Shimbun.
According to the sources, Okoye is accused of accessing overseas-operated internet casino sites via smartphone to gamble in July 2022 and May 2023, while Masuda allegedly did so in October and November 2024.
The pair are suspected of gambling on sites including “Wonder Casino” and “Konibet,” playing games such as blackjack and baccarat. Okoye wagered about 7 million yen (approximately $48,300) and had a negative balance of some 4.5 million yen ($31,100). Masuda allegedly gambled roughly 3 million yen ($20,700), incurring a loss of 2.3 million yen ($15,900) or so.
According to the Yomiuri Giants, both players expressed a desire to turn themselves in shortly after the team on Feb. 20 urged users of online casinos to voluntarily declare their activities. They reportedly admitted to the allegations during voluntary questioning, and police attached an opinion leaving the decision on whether to charge them up to prosecutors.
The Yomiuri Giants commented, “Both players stated they wanted to correct their mistakes before the start of the (professional baseball) season, and deeply regret having used online casinos out of curiosity while being unaware of their illegality. We will respond appropriately, considering the future decision of the Public Prosecutors Office and other factors.”
In March, the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, an internal organization of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), announced penalties totaling 10.2 million yen (about $70,400) in fines for 16 players from eight teams found to have engaged in illegal online casino activities.
(Japanese original by Ran Kanno, Tokyo City News Department)