Key Facts

• Mathew Bowyer, a Southern California bookmaker, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison.
• He pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering, and filing a false tax return.
• Bowyer’s cooperation in investigations led to convictions of two high-profile figures in illegal gambling cases.

Bowyer’s Gambling Operation

According to authorities, Bowyer ran an illegal gambling business for at least five years, taking bets from over 700 bettors, including Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter. Mizuhara, who was seen regularly with Ohtani, wagered $142 million and lost $183 million, resulting in a net loss of nearly $41 million.

“It is so easy to gamble everything away and fall into despair.” – Mathew Bowyer in a letter to the court

Cooperation Leads to Reduced Sentence

Despite prosecutors seeking a 15-month sentence, Bowyer’s significant assistance in investigations resulted in a shorter prison term. He will also serve two years of supervised release and pay $1.6 million in restitution to the IRS.

Sports Gambling Scandals

Cases like Bowyer’s and Mizuhara’s are not isolated incidents. In recent years, sports gambling scandals have made headlines, including a permanent ban for infielder Tucupita Marcano last year for betting on baseball legally. Previously, Pete Rose was banned from baseball in 1989 for betting on the sport.