$/€ Olympic Medalist from Japan Faces Prison Time Over Illegal Betting
Kate Marshal
31 January 2025
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Pictured: Table tennis player Koki Niwa
On January 29, police in Chiba Prefecture formally charged Olympic table tennis medalist Koki Niwa with illegal online sports betting, according to Chain Catcher.
Investigators claim that in early summer 2023, Niwa gained access to an offshore gambling site and placed wagers on sports events using cryptocurrency. During questioning, the athlete — who won silver at the Rio 2016 Olympics and bronze at the Tokyo Games in 2021 — admitted to the charges.
“I did it without knowing it was illegal, and I’m reflecting on my mistake. I’m sorry to the fans,” said the Olympic medalist, who had already retired from professional competition in the fall of 2022.
Niwa’s involvement in online betting was uncovered as part of a nationwide crackdown on violations of Japan’s gambling laws. Authorities are actively pursuing illegal betting cases, as participating in gambling is considered a criminal offense in the country. Those found guilty face up to three years in prison.
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