Bookie in Ohtani Betting Scandal Sentenced to One Year in Prison

For years, whispers about high-stakes betting followed Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Now, the bookie at the center of it all, Mathew Bowyer, is facing prison time after admitting to running an illegal gambling operation tied to Mizuhara’s massive debts.

Good to Know

• Bowyer will serve 12 months and one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
• He must attend gambling addiction counseling and has already paid $1.6 million in restitution.
• Mizuhara, who stole nearly $17 million from Ohtani, is serving a 57-month sentence.

Bowyer, 50, operated a large-scale illegal bookmaking business, taking more than 19,000 bets from Mizuhara between late 2021 and early 2024. Prosecutors say Mizuhara drained Ohtani’s accounts to cover around $40 million in losses.

Bowyer appeared before U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb, who rejected his attorney’s request for home confinement. Holcomb pointed to Bowyer’s false tax return—he reported $607,000 while hiding an income exceeding $4 million—as a key reason prison time was unavoidable.

“Justice demands there be some custody time,” the judge stated.

Bowyer must report by October 10 to begin his sentence. After release, he’ll remain under supervision for two years.

Bowyer’s punishment ended up lighter than the 15–21 months prosecutors originally asked for. He cut a deal by helping federal investigators in related cases, including the prosecution of Mizuhara and professional poker player Damien LeForbes, who also faces bookmaking charges.

In August 2024, Bowyer pleaded guilty to running an unlawful business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return. His sentencing was delayed several times but is now final.

Court documents reveal Bowyer worked with more than 700 clients during a five-year stretch. His bookmaking generated over $2,000 a day, and he laundered $24 million through Resorts World in Las Vegas. Regulators fined the casino $10.5 million for taking bets from him despite knowing his history.