Gambling scandals come as no shock in professional sports. Like, the 1919 Black Sox Scandal was a dark time in baseball. Eight Chicago White Sox players, including Shoeless Joe Jackson, were accused of throwing the World Series for a quick payday. Caught red-handed, they were banned for life, leaving their legacies in the dust. Now, Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league is also facing this crisis, as it turns out that 16 players from 8 teams have admitted to violating league rules by using online casinos. On 24th March 2025, NPB revealed this issue in a press conference and confirmed the violations. They also announced financial penalties. Though, the names of these players haven’t been disclosed yet due to an ongoing investigation.

Their fines sum up to around 10.2 million yen with individual penalties amounting to somewhere between 100,000 yen and 3 million yen. Despite the violations, no suspensions are issued. It was explained by NPB Secretary-General Katsuhiko Nakamura that the fines were established based on certain factors such as player salaries, betting amounts, frequency, and tenure of involvement.

He clarified that there are no soft penalties – expect the hammer to drop. The entire investigation started when pitcher Oryx Yamaoka was found using an online casino on February 20. Then, all 12 teams conducted internal inquiries. What did they find? 15 more players were involved. The voluntary disclosure period ended on March 20, resulting in one more player coming forward, which brings the total to 16.

The gambling scandals extend beyond NPB. In Major League Baseball (MLB), players such as Michael Kelly (Athletics right-handed pitcher), Jay Groome (Padres left-handed pitcher), José Rodríguez (Phillies infielder), and Andrew Saalfrank (D-backs left-handed pitcher) have also been sanctioned for 1 year because of illegal betting activities. Interestingly, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter has also been linked to a $17 million gambling scandal, bringing significant attention to the issue of betting in professional baseball.

For now, NPB and 12 other teams have committed a total of 30 million yen—which includes fines and other contributions—to organizations with a primary focus on gambling addiction prevention. The leagues will try to reinforce their stance against gambling and prevent similar issues in the future.

What will Japanese baseball look like as its best players depart for MLB?

Japan has always been a dominant force in baseball. The biggest names in the sport come from there. Goes without saying—Shohei Ohtani, who is the modern Babe Ruth in Major League Baseball today. And later this year, Ichiro Suzuki will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Although there is a concerning lingering question presently.

Two emerging talents, 19-year-old Rintaro Sasaki and 18-year-old Shotaro Morii, bypassed NPB entirely. Even Japan’s top pitcher, Roki Sasaki, departed before time to join the LA Dodgers—something unheard of under NPB’s usual rules.

Will NPB be able to protect its best talent? The concerns are growing. If Japan is willing to hold on to its baseball legacy, now is the time to act.