A bookie from Southern California who accepted several sports bets from the former interpreter of baseball player Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to operating an illegal gambling business. The bookmaker, Mathew Bowyer, ran his operation for over five years in Southern California and Las Vegas, catering to more than 700 bettors including Ohtani’s ex-interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Bowyer is set to plead guilty to charges of running an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return, with the court date scheduled for August 9.
This legal action against Bowyer comes amidst various sports betting scandals that have emerged recently, leading to Major League Baseball imposing a lifetime ban on a player for the first time since Pete Rose’s ban in 1989. Bowyer’s attorney, Diane Bass, has been collaborating with federal prosecutors to address her client’s case following a raid on Bowyer’s home last October. Bass stated that Mizuhara placed bets with Bowyer on international soccer rather than baseball.
While running an unlicensed betting enterprise is a federal offense, sports gambling remains illegal in California despite being permitted in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Mizuhara had earlier pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud for embezzling almost $17 million from Ohtani’s bank account. It was disclosed by federal investigators that Mizuhara made around 19,000 wagers between September 2021 and January 2024, resulting in a net loss of nearly $41 million despite winning over $142 million.
Contrary to speculation, no evidence was found suggesting that Mizuhara had bet on baseball. Federal prosecutors mentioned that there was no sign of Ohtani’s involvement or awareness of Mizuhara’s gambling activities, portraying the player as a victim who cooperated with the investigation. It was disclosed by prosecutors that other clients of Bowyer included a pro baseball player from a Southern California team and a former minor league player, with no details regarding any potential criminal charges.
Last year, allegations surfaced about former Los Angeles Angels player David Fletcher being investigated by Major League Baseball for gambling on sports through Bowyer. It was reported that MLB was expected to look into the matter. The league has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the status of the investigation involving Fletcher, who was a teammate of Ohtani on the Angels for six years, and now plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Additionally, in a separate incident, the MLB banned San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano for life and suspended four others for legally betting on baseball. Marcano became the first active player in 100 years to receive a lifetime ban due to gambling. The league strictly prohibits players and staff from wagering on baseball, even through legal means, and penalizes those who bet on other sports through illegal or offshore bookmakers at the discretion of the commissioner’s office.
