Japanese badminton is serious business in the country that is asian. Though not as popular as baseball, Sumo wrestling, and football, badminton is widely played in parks and rec centers throughout Japan.

Competition in badminton among Eurasian nations is intense, with China since fierce as they come. The world’s second-ranked player, compete against the game’s best among the Asian sports stratosphere with the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics less than four months away, Japanese badminton enthusiasts were eagerly anticipating watching their prodigy Kento Momota.

But now it appears unlikely Momota will be making the day at Brazil at all, that he and a teammate repeatedly visited an illegal casino in Tokyo after it came to light.

Talking at a news meeting on Friday, Momota and teammate Kenichi Tago admitted to visiting gambling that is illegal in their country. Tago pleaded his situation that he is always to blame. The game’s 63rd-ranked player claims he became addicted to gaming while at international tournaments where gambling is appropriate.

‘It’s all my responsibility to have put Momota in this situation. I’ll take any punishment I’m offered. I’d accept that I shall no further be able to play badminton . . . I would really like Momota become provided one more chance.’

Japan Pans Casinos

Gambling in Japan is certainly banned, but a movement to overhaul the law gained momentum after the Global Olympic Committee awarded Tokyo the 2020 Summer Olympics straight back in 2013.

Declining VIP play in Macau while the rise in center class wages in China has made Japan a tourist that is desirable, nonetheless it’s an area that will remain free of casinos for the time being.

With such strict laws and more than 127 million residents in the tenth many populous nation in the world, it’s no surprise that many incidences of gambling violations occur each year. Just last thirty days, Japanese baseball pitcher Kyosuke Takagi was banned from the activity for 12 months and fined $45,000 after he admitted to gambling on games.

And the two badminton stars could face even steeper penalties.

Tago reportedly visited illegal casinos in Japan some 60 times throughout the last two years and lost roughly 10 million yen (US$91,800). Momota allegedly accompanied Tago six times, though it’s unclear how much money he spent.

‘Considering we’ve had so impact that is much badminton and sports circles, as well like in society, we will have to give them harsh punishments,’ an official with Momota’s club stated.

Momota has won about $250,000 playing badminton in their career. a ultimate decision on whether or not to permit Momota into the Summer Olympics is expected in the coming days.

American Sports and Gambling take view that is different

In stark comparison to Japan’s zeitgeist, the only area where America believes gambling is where the line should really be drawn for activities stars is whenever it comes down to activities betting within their own leagues. Pete Rose was prohibited from entering baseball’s Hall of Fame for betting on their games.

However when it comes to just gambling per se, if the US punished recreations stars merely for entering casinos, which no body considers a crime in and of itself, it may be argued that half of all united group bases would fade away.

In basic, virtually no crime seems to be enough stateside to ban a player from the industry for a lifetime. The NFL is very nearly infamously lax, with a dog that is former whom tortured and murdered hundreds of canines now back after serving a brief sentence, and undoubtedly a virtual epidemic of domestic violence circumstances which have received little more compared to a slap on the hand for most players.

And in other sports that are american, the NBA reinstated a new player who once went to the stands and punched a fan, while MLB has numerous movie stars playing that have been condemned for using steroids.