The Taiwanese professional baseball league suspended three players for playing poker online.
Following an investigation by Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League, league officials fined and suspended three players from the TSG Hawks. Guo Yu-yan, Chen Guan-hao, and Wu Yu-cheng all received either a five-game or 10-game suspension.
According to a report from the Taipei Times, both the team and the CPBL began investigating the players after reports surfaced that all three were playing online poker.
Guo received a 10-game suspension and NT$100,000 ($3,294) fine. On the other hand, Chen and Wu received a five-game suspension and NT$50,000 ($1,647) fine.
“Engaging in online gambling is not a sanctioned activity for players, which has tarnished Taiwan’s professional baseball,” league officials said in a statement. “Baseball clubs must impose better internal monitoring and instruct players on the code of conduct.”
League officials added they expect the players to represent the values of the league.
“We ask all clubs and players to uphold the good image and core values of professional baseball, and to know what those mean for our society.”
Guo Recruited Chen And Wu To Games
CPBL secretary-general Yang Ching-lung confirmed Saturday that the league was notified that some players were gambling online. According to the league, Guo recruited the other two players to the online poker game. As a result, he received the larger fine and longer suspension.
Taiwan began blocking poker websites at the start of 2022. Thus, the players were playing in a private game run by an agent on an app.
The only legal gambling in Taiwan is a state-run lottery. Despite the lack of options, online gambling has been popular, leading to many on the island and government officials battling the industry.
The league faced a similar situation last year. Five players were suspended and fined in August 2024 after they were spotted playing in brick-and-mortar poker games.
In the U.S., sports leagues have faced their own share of gambling-related headaches involving players and staff. Earlier this year, Major League Baseball umpire Pat Hoberg was fired for sharing a sports betting account with a friend. Additionally, Hoberg hid evidence of the account by deleting text messages that could be used in an investigation.
In September, the NCAA announced a major sports betting-related investigation involving 13 former men’s basketball players at six schools.
