Bookmaker Connected to Shohei Ohtani Scandal Sentenced to Prison

A Southern California bookmaker tied to a high-profile sports betting scandal involving Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter was sentenced Friday to a year and a day in federal prison. Mathew Bowyer, 50, had previously pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling operation, laundering money, and filing a false tax return. His sentencing is the latest chapter in a sprawling federal crackdown on underground sports betting.

Bowyer’s case emerged alongside the dramatic downfall of Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara is now serving nearly five years in prison for stealing almost $17 million from Ohtani to fund a gambling addiction. Authorities say he placed hundreds of bets through Bowyer’s illicit operation. Despite the financial chaos, Ohtani was officially declared a victim, with no evidence he ever participated in the gambling scheme.

Bowyer cooperated with federal investigators

Prosecutors initially pushed for a 15-month sentence, citing Bowyer’s long-running betting business, which operated in both Southern California and Las Vegas. They said the operation involved over 700 bettors and generated hundreds of millions of dollars in wagers, often raking in thousands of dollars a day. Still, federal officials acknowledged that Bowyer’s cooperation helped secure two key convictions — Mizuhara’s included — and argued this should weigh in his favor.

Before sentencing, Bowyer expressed remorse. “The bottom line is, I am remorseful. I have made many poor choices in my life,” he told the court. His attorney, Diane Bass, asked the judge to spare him prison entirely, pointing to Bowyer’s “extraordinary acceptance of responsibility” and recent efforts to help others struggling with gambling addiction. In court filings, Bowyer shared how he began gambling in his teens — starting with poker and video games — and eventually lost control.

Still, U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb ruled that some prison time was necessary. “Despite the significant mitigation, there are consequences for committing these crimes,” he said. Bowyer will also serve two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution to the IRS, an amount his legal team says he has already paid.

Mizuhara lost over $40 million in bets

Investigators say Mizuhara’s gambling losses totaled nearly $41 million, with over $183 million in losing bets and more than $142 million in winnings — all placed on sports other than baseball. He deposited the money into his own account, never Ohtani’s. The scandal rocked the MLB community, prompting league-wide reviews of gambling policies and renewed scrutiny on the industry’s ties to athletes and team personnel.

While sports betting is illegal in California, it’s allowed in many other states. Running an unlicensed betting operation at the federal level is a crime regardless of location. Bowyer’s case also prompted Nevada gaming regulators to fine Resorts World Casino $10.5 million for welcoming guests with ties to illegal gambling networks. It was the second-largest fine ever issued by the state’s Gaming Commission.

MLB takes a harder line on betting

The league’s gambling policy bans players and team staff from betting on baseball under any circumstance, even where it’s legal. In 2023, Tucupita Marcano, a San Diego Padres infielder, became the first active player banned for life in a century after betting on games. Four others were suspended. The last time MLB issued a lifetime ban for gambling was Pete Rose in 1989, who admitted to placing bets on the Cincinnati Reds while serving as player-manager.

This latest case highlights the growing tension between professional sports and legalized gambling, a market that’s expanded dramatically since the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018. As more teams and leagues ink deals with betting operators, enforcement around integrity and compliance continues to evolve.

For now, Bowyer’s sentencing brings a chapter to a close in one of the most talked-about scandals involving Major League Baseball in recent years — a cautionary tale about addiction, trust, and how fast the line between legality and criminality can blur in the modern sports world.