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Another badminton player yanked from squad as casino scandal deepens

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Japanese logic: I askd my J wife whats the big deal about gambling, she said the problem is the money goes to Yakuza. I said why not arrest the Yakuza? no answer. Then I asked doesnt pachniko money also go to Yakuza, why is that ok? no answer...

8 ( +10 / -2 )

So stupid.... are you going to jail anyone that visits a pachinko as well?

8 ( +9 / -1 )

The biggest gangster doesn't want anyone cutting in on its turf.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Isnt anyone thinking that casinos seem to be very popular amongst young men? Isnt anyone thinking that the government are missing out on tax income from legalised casinos? Just a little bit of common sense amongst the witch hunt.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

so the next time you go to pachinko or play the numbers game you may get arrested becuase gambling is illegal, LOL sometimes I think that logic and common sense is genetically void in Japanese DNA

3 ( +3 / -0 )

TigersTokyoDome: "The witch hunt"

Yeah, because the people who commit crimes are the victims, Tigers... Bring on the "It's not their fault!", "One time (despite being more) does not watt ant such punishment!", and "it was an accident!" And uch similar, sad excuses as further proof comes to light. Pathetic.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Isnt anyone thinking that the government are missing out on tax income from legalised casinos?

Despite being illegal, gambling is a very big social issue in Japan, and gambling addiction is a serious problem already. I would rather have people and parents spend their money on food, clothes, housing, and their children, than to use it to fill government coffers. We don't need those who are supposed to maintain a safe society find a way to profit from vices which are addictive and destructive to society.

So stupid.... are you going to jail anyone that visits a pachinko as well?

When you sign the contract joining a sport association in Japan (and other countries), you specifically agree not to take part in gambling of any type. Believe it or not, people bet money on badminton games, and there is a long history of sports games of every type being fixed by bookmakers, gangsters, and the athletes themselves. The cash you can get by throwing a match can be much greater than the prize for winning.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Yeah, because the people who commit crimes are the victims, Tigers... Bring on the "It's not their fault!", "One time (despite being more) does not watt ant such punishment!", and "it was an accident!" And uch similar, sad excuses as further proof comes to light. Pathetic.

Err, nope. Didnt bring on the its not their fault or it was an accident excuses. I said, in a manner of common sense instead of an atmosphere of prosecution, that instead of costing the taxpayer money for investigations into such a grey area (grey area because keiba and pachinko are legal), that someting as popular as casinos could be turned into legal tax income for the government. The government even get to control maximum stakes and losses. Its just plain sense, rather than the pathetic hysteria.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I think one has to read the between the lines here a bit.

First of all, there is no way of knowing whether he gambled or not. It is just his word. And I don't think illegal casinos will provide any evidence about their clients.

Then there is the question that how he knew about these places. Since - assuming - these places are run by the Yaks, you need to have direct connections with the Yaks or need to know someone who does. These are not comfortable thoughts.

On top of that, doesn't Japan have strict laws regarding not to have an dealings with those who are connected to organized crime? In my company, we have such a specific clause with all the employees and clients.

And national team players are held to higher standards than the normal public.

It seems quite logical to me that he is removed from the team.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Despite being illegal, gambling is a very big social issue in Japan, and gambling addiction is a serious problem already. if the authorities though it was a problem theyd be raiding every pachinko palour that can be found. Instead they keep getting paid off by the Yaks to turn a blind eye and label Pachinko as an entertainment palour not a gambling establishment

0 ( +1 / -1 )

One problem with athletes gambling is that indebted athletes have greater incentive to throw matches.

Of course, sumo wrestlers already throw matches.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

They are a wild bunch, these badminton players. What's next? Dancing after midnight?! This is getting out of control...

Debucho,

Whoah, I had the same discussion over here. Scary.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

They are a wild bunch, these badminton players. What's next? Dancing after midnight?! This is getting out of control...

Ah,ha,ha!

Perspective. In Japan you arrest badminton players for going to a casino. In the UK if you avoid tax you become prime minister...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

TigersTokyoDome: " Its just plain sense, rather than the pathetic hysteria."

Sorry, but you can't take back the "witch hunt" comment, nor on the other thread that you were defending Momota and said "it was one time" when it was almost ten, and in yakuza gambling dens to boot!

I do agree that the contradiction with pachinko being legal (and horse racing, etc), is ridiculous, but it get the feeling you still think the punishments are too much, which they are not. Tango should still be banned for life, and this clown and Momota potentially so, UNTIL gambling with the yaks becomes legal.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

You don't go to jail for playing pachinko because it is not classified as gambling in Japan. It is treated as an amusement activity like arcades and hostess bars so Japan pays no gaming tax. Japanese laws regard pachinko as an exception to the criminal code on gambling for historical, monetary, and cultural reason. It is also in a regulatory grey zone that prevents pachinko operators from listing their shares on a Japanese stock exchange.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

smith, nothing I say or do will save these badminton players. They are Olympics toast. However I do try to think of reason when the news is all over this story. Considering all the things that are bad in life, visiting an illegal casino is way down on the list.

I'm not going to be brainwashed by the badminton association and the Olympics committee trying to teach me that visiting illegal casinos is so wrong when the small town I live in is surrounded by huge pachinko malls and offering nothing else for bored people where I live.

There are far more pachinko machines than badminton courts in this town.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Novechama is right. Pachinko never has been classified as gambling equipment in Japan

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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