(AsiaGameHub) – Prosecutors in Japan have announced they will not bring charges against Rakuten Eagles professional baseball player Hideto Asamura and two unidentified team staff members for using online casino platforms.
Online casinos are prohibited in Japan, and accessing overseas sites from within the country constitutes a crime.
On March 4, police referred 35-year-old infielder Asamura and the team officials to public prosecutors, as reported by Japanese media outlet Sponichi Annex.
The three were alleged to have violated gambling laws by “using their smartphones to bet on overseas online casino websites.”
However, on March 18, the Sendai District Public Prosecutor’s Office released a statement indicating it would not indict any of the trio. The office noted it had “considered various circumstances” but provided no further details on the matter.
The Eagles—officially the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles—are based in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture.
Hideto Asamura: No Charges for Baseball Star
The recent allegations were a poorly timed setback for the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB), whose new season kicks off Friday, March 27.
Last season’s NPB campaign was overshadowed by a series of gambling-related scandals amid a police crackdown on online casino wagering.
At least a dozen players and staff from several top NPB teams faced warnings and fines from police and lower courts.
The NPB had hoped to move past the issue ahead of the 2026 season. Earlier this year, it held special gambling awareness sessions for rookie players and training for new umpires.
Many players accused in such cases have claimed they were unaware that betting on online casino platforms was illegal in Japan.
Teams say they now run their own online casino-focused educational sessions to ensure all staff and players understand the criminal nature of online gambling.
Team Issues Apology
A Rakuten Eagles representative apologized for the incident, stating, “We are deeply sorry for causing [the public] so much worry and inconvenience.”
The official said the franchise would “strongly remind those involved of their responsibilities as members of the baseball community.”
“As a team, we will strive to further improve our compliance awareness,” the spokesperson added. “We will continue to fully implement measures to prevent a recurrence.”
Japanese baseball is not the only league grappling with gambling-related controversies ahead of the upcoming season.
In neighboring South Korea, fans criticized three Lotte Giants players after they were found gambling at a betting den in Taiwan during a preseason training camp.
Authorities have handed down lengthy suspensions to all three, meaning they will miss most of the 2026 season.
The Korea Baseball Organization season begins March 28.
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