Just when Japanese baseball was trying to move past its recent wave of gambling issues, the fiasco has only deepened. On May 8, it came to light that two Yomiuri Giants players, Rui Okoye and Daiki Masuda, have been referred to prosecutors. The reason?
For gambling at illegal online casinos. But here is what you didn’t see coming—they are probably not facing prosecution. This is because their team stepped up and voluntarily reported the issue earlier this year. Both players admitted to the charges, and since the entire ordeal has been handled transparently, the police chose not to take further action.
Still, it’s a serious blow for the NPB, especially in what’s already been a rough season.
But this Rui Okoye and Daiki Masuda storm didn’t start now. It began in February when the Orix Buffaloes were tipped off about pitcher Taisuke Yamaoka’s online gambling activity. He had reportedly taken part in an online poker tournament hosted on a foreign-licensed casino site. Once the news broke out, Orix moved quickly, interviewing every player and staff member on the team.
No one was implicated, but the league wasn’t about to take chances. The NPB issued a public statement, asking 12 teams to launch their internal investigations and asking players to come forward if they had dabbled in online gambling. This is how the above players have complied, and infact, a total of 16 players from eight teams have admitted to using casino sites already. The names of all are not given out, but fines have been charged.
The issue isn’t confined to Japan. In the United States, too, Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter and that scandal still hang. His interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who was also his very close friend, was charged in the US for stealing nearly $17 million from the star to pay off gambling debts. The gambling issues seem to go deeper than just one or two headlines.
When Shohei Ohtani’s right-hand man and friend turned foe
In the world of baseball, while gambling is not a new thing, when Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter, ripped off Shohei Ohtani, it was different. Because he wasn’t just a staff member for the Dodger superstar, he was a close confidant. Now he stands sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for embezzling from the athlete. The sentencing took place in Santa Ana, California, following Mizuhara’s guilty plea to charges of bank fraud and even filing a false tax return.
Mizuhara has been a constant presence for Ohtani ever since their time in Japan. Their partnership continued when Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2018 and the Dodgers in 2023. However, who would have thought he was siphoning funds from Ohtani’s bank account to cover the gambling debts and personal expenses? The purchase of baseball cards worth $325,000 is quite telling. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Mizuhara even manipulated bank account details to impersonate Ohtani! He also falsely authorized a $200,000 transfer. His attorney did request an 18-month sentence, but the judge imposed the full 57 months. In a letter to the court, Mizuhara said, “I don’t believe an apology will fix my wrong… I am prepared to accept my consequences.” But if only words could heal friendships.
This just highlights not gambling issues, but the vulnerabilities athletes face when placing their trust in close associates.
The post After Shohei Ohtani’s Gambling Saga, Baseball Scandal Rocks Japan as NPB Players Confess to Dishonor appeared first on EssentiallySports.