Mathew Bowyer, a former illegal bookmaker, revisited his past in light of the Shohei Ohtani betting scandal during a recent episode of ESPN's "30 for 30" podcast series. This episode dives deeper into Bowyer's connection with Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani's interpreter who misappropriated $17 million from Ohtani's accounts to offset his gambling debts.
Describing Mizuhara's betting behavior, Bowyer remarked, "He was absolutely bananas, the amount of bets he was making. Listen, I gambled bigger than most, right? And I sleep, you know, I have a life too. He definitely was betting all night long, all the time. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve seen some wild stuff, but never like this."
Bowyer quickly identified Mizuhara's gambling addiction. "I think it was within 30 days, because once the numbers started getting higher and there was a request for higher figures, that’s when I got involved. He bumped his account, bumped it again, I bumped it all the way to ($40K), and then he lost, and then I required payment."
He acknowledged the ethical dilemma of profiting from someone’s addiction, stating, "It sucks to profit off somebody’s addiction, but… you try to control it so that you can make money off that person, but control it so they don’t ruin themselves. This is something every bookmaker that has a really good business will tell you. There’s a very fine line, and I think I did it better than anyone, truly."
Mizuhara primarily wagered on soccer, often placing bets on lesser-known matches, which Bowyer described as more challenging. "Kazakhstan, you know, like that. $100,000 on that, or $40,000 on a draw on this game," he recounted, emphasizing the risk Mizuhara was taking in attempts to recover from his mounting losses.
Bowyer stated, "He was trying to dig out a hole, and that hole made him even more poor of a gambler because he’s betting big payout stuff, right? Knowing that he’s probably going to lose. And that just digs a deeper hole."
As for Ohtani's potential involvement, Bowyer, reflecting on his clientele, revealed, "I believe 50% of athletes bet on sports." When Ohtani’s name surfaced during a $500,000 wire transfer, Bowyer experienced a pivotal moment, stating, "That was the holy shit moment. I think he’s betting, absolutely."
However, Bowyer noted a complication in this theory: many bets were made while Ohtani was actively playing for the Los Angeles Angels. "I’ve been at Angel games when he was on the mound and throwing pitches, and bets are being placed. So how could that happen? He is the most talented baseball player I’ve ever seen, but if he could get on a website on the mound, and throw a ball 100 miles an hour, then he is Godzilla for sure."
Bowyer continued, "That doesn’t mean that he wasn’t partners on the account and doesn’t mean that he wasn’t aware. I mean, everyone knows they were like best best friends. I mean, best friends. They were together more than a husband and wife ever are. That’s a fact. I was close with a lot of Angels’ players that would verify that these guys were inseparable."
Given their close relationship, Bowyer found it hard to believe Ohtani was oblivious to Mizuhara's gambling habits. Reflecting on his uncertainty from that time, Bowyer said, "I’m giving this guy so much credit. I’m watching the balance just decline, but I don’t know if it’s Shohei Ohtani. I don’t know if it’s Ippei. I thought Ippei was putting in bets either with or for Shohei Ohtani."
In June 2024, MLB officially cleared Ohtani of any involvement or knowledge of illegal gambling.
