Mathew Bowyer, the illegal bookmaker involved in the betting scandal linked to Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, stated that he has no regrets about managing his gambling operation. Speaking after his recent release from prison, Bowyer reflected on his past actions. "I regret some of the poor choices I made – but I don’t regret it because it made me who I am today," he told NBCLA. Bowyer was sentenced to just over a year in prison after pleading guilty to charges that included running an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return. After serving seven months, he was released in March of this year.
During his time in prison, Bowyer experienced a stark contrast to the lavish lifestyle he previously led, where he reportedly earned up to $1 million a month. He described the difficulties of adjusting from a life filled with luxury—like private jets and Rolls-Royces—to prison meals he likened to "dog food." Upon reflecting on his time behind bars, Bowyer emphasized the importance of gratitude: "It’s truly being grateful for what we do have in life and appreciating my health, my family, and time. I mean, time is the most precious gift we all have."
Though he expressed remorse at his sentencing last year, Bowyer indicated he would repeat his past decisions if given the chance, admitting, "I would never want to put my wife and kids through that part of the experience… that was very difficult. But I’d be lying to you—and I don’t lie, I like to tell the truth—that I would not do it all over again."
Bowyer is currently facing restrictions related to his release, which includes a two-year gambling ban. In April, Nevada added him to its blacklist, preventing him from entering any gambling establishments in the state for life. He explained, "They served me, saying I no longer could set foot on any property in the state of Nevada that has a gambling establishment license of any format. For life."
Several casinos incurred significant fines for allowing Bowyer and other illegal bookmakers access to their gaming floors, including: $7.8 million for Caesars, $10.5 million for Resorts World Las Vegas, $8.5 million for MGM Resorts International, and $5.5 million for Wynn Resorts. Court documents show that Bowyer moved at least $18 million through casinos during his operation, which he ran for 25 years. He is also facing a $9 million tax bill from the IRS.
One of Bowyer's clients was Ippei Mizuhara, who misappropriated over $17 million from Ohtani. In total, Mizuhara lost $41 million gambling with Bowyer and still owes $23 million, which he is unlikely to repay while serving his 57-month prison sentence for his crimes.
Since his release, Bowyer and his family have resided in San Juan Capistrano, Orange County. Before incarceration, he authored a book titled 'Recalibrate,' which discusses his life story. Following his release, he is working on a second book and has started delivering motivational speeches focused on the dangers of gambling. Bowyer remarked, "I’m advertising that you can rebrand yourself. You can come back in life. What’s wrong with a person coming back? Everyone loves a comeback story." He also launched a website to promote his experiences, books, and speaking engagements. Bowyer finds his current endeavors more fulfilling, stating, "The grind and all the work I’m putting in now is actually more fun than it was before, because there’s so much more purpose behind it, and in life, when you have purpose, you actually have, in my opinion, a winning hand." He plans to write an apology letter to Mizuhara while he is in prison, reflecting on their shared poor choices that led to their current circumstances.
