“Had a massive gambling addiction problem,” Matthew Bowyer, bookie of Ippei Mizuhara drops BOLD statement regarding Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter
Bookie Matthew Bowyer had urged Shohei Ohtani's ex-intrepreter Ippei Mizuhara to make payments of around $16.25 million.
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Ippei Mizuhara and Shohei Ohtani (Image via Imago)
The Shohei Ohtani-Ippei Mizuhara saga has another new chapter. Matthew Bowyer, the bookie of Mizuhara recently dropped a bold statement regarding him. He believed that the ex-interpreter had a “massive gambling addicition problem“.
Mizuhara, the former translator was Shohei Ohtani, was arrested last year for stealing nearly $17 million from the baseball star. He had been in Ohtani’s corner since he made his way from Japan to the United States to join the Los Angeles Angels.
Recently, an audio clip evidence from the Department of Justice (DOJ) got leaked. In the audio, Mizuhara would impersonate as Ohtani on the phone to wire $200,000 from his bank account. He would recently write a letter to Judge John W. Holcomb asking for a lenient sentence.
During an interview with Josh Kosman of the New York Post, Bowyer made his first public statement regarding this matter. In this, Bowyer admitted that he would try to control Mizuhara a little bit from this gambling addiction.
I asked him if he was OK. He said, ‘I’m just terrible at this.’ I would try to control him a little bit. I truly believe he had a massive gambling addiction problem.
Matthew Bowyer said as per New York Post
As per the DOJ, Bowyer made Ippei Mizuhara deposit around $16.25 million to his controlled-bank accounts. He would then transfer this money to his illegal business.
The bookie himself had concerns regarding Ohtani’s ex-translator. However, due to greed he did not cut him off and allowed him to bet on sports.
Mizuhara will be sentenced on February 6th. The federal agencies have demanded a five year prison sentence for him. Meanwhile, Bowyer is scheduled to be sentenced a day later on February 7th. He faces up to 18 years in prison.
![Ippei Mizuhara and Shohei Ohtani [Image Credit: Imago]](https://firstsportz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ippei-Mizuhara-and-Shohei-Ohtani-600x450.jpg)
Matthew Bowyer claims late MLB star Pete Rose “loved” gambling
When it comes to gambling controversies in sports, one of the name that pops is Pete Rose. The late MLB star was a high profile name who was caught in gambling addiction. Bookie Matthew Bowyer has claimed that the former Cincinnati Reds star “loved” the action of gambling.
When speaking with the New York Post, Bowyer pointed out that Rose started placing bets on around 2004 when he was living in Las Vegas. After the MLB all-time hits leader started placing bets of more than $1,000 a game average after few years, Bowyer would cut him off.
Rose just loved the action. He was absolutely compulsive. No question. I wasn’t an angel but I wanted to keep my customer from blowing his brains out.
Matthew Bowyer said
In 1989 three years after he retiring as a player, he was permanently banned from the MLB due to his gambling problem. Rose would bet on games he played and managed for the Reds. As a result of this, he never made it to the MLB Hall of Fame despite having some great numbers.
Say whatever you want about him but dude’s 44 here and playing harder than guys half his age. He had a lifetime ban. That wasn’t your lifetime or my lifetime. It’s a fucking museum. Explain to your kids he gambled if it’s that fucking important to you. Pete Rose for the Hall NOW. pic.twitter.com/bvCsAAJDEr
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) January 19, 2025
Rose passed away at the age of 83 on September 30, 2024. The MLB would extend it’s condolences to him which sparked angry reactions for fans as they urged the league should have inducted him into Cooperstown while he was alive.
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Vinay Dave
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