Two officials of the Chunichi Dragons professional baseball team have been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of illegal gambling at overseas online casinos, according to law enforcement authorities.
Police reports indicate that the individuals placed bets using their smartphones, violating Japan’s strict gambling laws, which prohibit participation in unauthorized online betting activities, even if the servers are hosted overseas.
One of the officials reportedly gambled approximately 700,000 yen (about $4,400 USD) on online slots and baccarat over a five-day span in February 2025. The individual voluntarily confessed to the activity following an internal inquiry conducted by the Dragons organization.
The second official was discovered to have wagered around 8,000 yen(roughly $50 USD) on slots in September 2024, based on a tip received by authorities from a third party. Both suspects admitted to the allegations during questioning by police.
The identities and ages of the two individuals have not been publicly disclosed, in line with investigative protocols.
This marks the latest development in a widening gambling scandal involving figures connected to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). In May 2025, the Chunichi Dragons publicly acknowledged that coach Shinichiro Koyama had used an overseas online casino platform and was subsequently questioned by police. The team issued an apology and stated that they would take internal disciplinary action in accordance with league regulations.
The case adds to a growing list of similar incidents across Japanese baseball, as the nation grapples with the legal gray area surrounding access to foreign-based gambling platforms via smartphones.
Authorities have yet to confirm whether formal indictments will follow in the case of the two Dragons officials.