Sports Betting Scandal Hits Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani, the international image of Major League Baseball, has unknowingly become entangled in a sports betting controversy. Fortunately, none of the top sports betting sites were involved in the incident.

The news of Ohtani’s Dodgers interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who has been with the team since 2017, being accused of embezzling millions from the Japanese star to place illegal sports bets, broke on Wednesday.

As per a report by the LA Times, Mizuhara has accumulated a significant gambling debt with an unlicensed and unregulated bookmaker in Southern California, which is currently under investigation by federal authorities. Sports betting in California remains illegal, making it one of the few markets in the United States that has not been legalized.

According to ESPN, the debts amount to at least $4.5 million.

The West Hollywood law firm of Berk Brettler has stated that Shohei has been the victim of a significant theft, and they are now handing the matter over to the authorities after responding to recent media inquiries.

The Dodgers have terminated Ippei Mizuhara from his position as the personal interpreter for the MLB star.

How it all went down

During an investigation into illegal sports betting activity in Southern California, authorities discovered Ohtani’s name while looking into bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. This investigation also involved a raid on Bowyer’s Orange County home in October.

Investigative sources discovered that wire transfer payments were made from Ohtani’s account to an associate of Bowyer. An ESPN report disclosed two payments of $500,000 each in September and October.

The report identified Ohtani’s name in the wire transfer, along with various bank account details linked to a loan mentioned in the document.

As of now, there is no evidence to suggest that Ohtani was involved in the illegal gambling or had any interaction with the accused bookmaker.

For the record

Ippei Mizuhara has refuted any claims that Ohtani was involved in sports betting. Speaking to ESPN, Mizuhara stated, “I want to clarify that Shohei had no part in any betting activities. I was unaware that it was against the law, and I have learned my lesson. I am not good at gambling and have no intention of participating in it again. I never made any profits, only dug myself deeper into a hole by betting more in an attempt to recover losses. It was a downward spiral that I regret.”

In the interview, Mizuhara denied ever betting on baseball and alleged that Ohtani had agreed to cover his gambling debts. Mizuhara stated that he had placed bets on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL, and college football through Bowyer’s illicit betting operations.

During his ESPN interview, Mizuhara revealed that Ohtani expressed his displeasure with the situation and offered to help him out to ensure it never happened again. Ohtani ultimately decided to cover the expenses on Mizuhara’s behalf.

Lawyers representing Mathew Bowyer, the California bookmaker implicated in illegal activity, stated that Ohtani did not have any contact with their client. “Mr. Bowyer never had a meeting or conversation with Shohei Ohtani,” attorney Dianne Bass confirmed.

Ramifications

The Shohei Ohtani saga is expected to bring more attention to the risks of sports betting on a global scale, potentially leading to unwanted scrutiny for the baseball superstar and the Dodgers organization.

The impact on Ohtani himself as he bids farewell to a longtime friend and confidant and transitions to a new team and market for the upcoming 2024 MLB season is often overlooked.