Koki Niwa Suspended for Six Months over Illegal Online Gambling
Tokyo, Japan – April 20, 2025 — At an emergency board meeting held on Saturday, April 19, the Japan Table Tennis Association (JTTA) officially announced a six-month suspension for star player Koki Niwa due to illegal gambling via online casinos. The disciplinary decision was made public on Sunday, April 20.
The suspension takes effect retroactively from April 19, which means Niwa will be barred from participating in the Chiba Prefecture qualifying tournament scheduled for October 11. This effectively disqualifies him from competing in the All Japan Championships in January next year.
Koki Niwa, 30, a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics and a prominent figure in Japanese table tennis, has recently come under scrutiny after Tokyo police questioned him for accessing an overseas online casino from within Japan — a practice that is illegal under Japanese law, regardless of the casino’s jurisdiction. Niwa admitted to placing bets using cryptocurrency and stated that he was unaware the activity was against the law, having been enticed by online advertisements.
Niwa has long been considered one of Japan’s most talented and creative table tennis players. Born in Hokkaido in 1994, he rose to fame after winning two gold medals at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. He went on to claim the boys’ singles title at the 2011 World Junior Table Tennis Championships. In 2012, he shocked the table tennis world by defeating then-world number one Ma Long during the Asian Olympic qualifiers, becoming the first Japanese male player to qualify for the London Olympics that year. Niwa played a vital role in Japan’s silver medal win in the team event at the Rio 2016 Olympics, and later helped the team secure bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Games. He reached his career-high world ranking of No. 5 in November 2017. Known for his unorthodox style, rapid reflexes, and signature ‘chop block’ technique, Niwa has been admired both domestically and internationally as one of the most entertaining and unpredictable players of his generation.
His case is part of a broader crackdown by the National Police Agency (NPA), which has been targeting the use of online casinos accessed via smartphones. Authorities are concerned about the rise in gambling addiction, especially among younger demographics, and the potential links between illegal gambling platforms and organized crime.
Niwa’s suspension has sent shockwaves through Japan’s sporting world, as more public figures and athletes are now being investigated for similar offenses. The JTTA emphasized that the penalty was necessary to uphold the integrity and ethical standards of the sport.
Noriko Tanaka, head of a support group for gambling addiction victims, commented, “This strict action against Niwa serves as a wake-up call. The number of young Japanese engaging in online gambling without understanding its illegality is growing fast. Education and enforcement must go hand in hand.”
The JTTA concluded by reaffirming its commitment to stricter oversight and legal awareness campaigns for athletes to prevent future violations.
JP2021.COM