Accused Illegal Bookie Alleges Widespread Gambling in Pro Sports

Facing allegations of operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering and filing false tax returns, Mathew Bowyer, a prominent California bookmaker has been in hot water for a while now. Amid the allegations, the 49-year-old man pleaded guilty back in August.

Bowyer is expected to be sentenced in April. Ahead of his sentencing, the bookmaker, who allegedly accepted wagers from Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter who is accused of stealing millions of dollars to gamble from Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers star player, was recently interviewed by the New York Post.

50% of Professional Athletes Are Betting

This marks Bowyer’s first media appearance, and he revealed several shocking details regarding his gambling past. Notably, the man who is accused of running a massive illegal gambling operation, claimed that he accepted wagers from former, as well as current professional athletes.

Concerningly, Bowyer claimed that half of the professional athletes wager on sports. Equally as concerning is his estimate that out of the athletes that are gambling approximately 10% are compulsive gamblers. He added that in his opinion, some 3% of the athletes who are betting on sports place wagers on their own sport.

“I know some of them (athletes) are still betting on sports. If 50 percent are gambling, I would think 10 percent of those are compulsive gamblers.“

Matthew Bowyer

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Bowyer operated an illegal gambling enterprise for at least five years until October 2023. In that time, an estimated 700 bettors placed wagers with the unlicensed bookmaker.

Recently Bowyer’s spouse, Nicole Bowyer, saw her independent agent license revoked in Nevada. The woman reportedly reached a settlement with the state’s gambling regulator, the Nevada Gaming Control Board, under which it agreed with the revocation of her independent agent license.

Bowyer Admits Feeling Sorry for Ippei Mizuhara

Bowyer also spoke about his dealings with Mizuhara, who is accused of stealing $17 million from the Dodgers star, Shohei Ohtani. The bookmaker admitted that after a while, it became clear to him that Mizuhara was stealing money from Ohtani.

Recalling collaborations with Mizuhara, Bowyer said: “He never acted as if the dollar amounts impacted him for one second. He was so polite and so respectful.” The man, accused of illegal bookmaking, said that he never asked the former interpreter of the Dodgers’ star whether or not Ohtani was making the bets.

The DOJ alleged that Mizuhara placed a minimum of 19,000 bets with Bowyer between September 2021 and January 2024. While Mizuhara’s winnings were approximately $142.3 million, the losses were at least $182.9 million. Seeing Mizuhara facing sentencing on February 6, Bowyer said that he felt sorry for him.

The bookmaker admitted: “I truly believe he had a massive gambling addiction problem.” Bowyer added that while that likely was the case, he was also struggling with a gambling addiction that pushed him into wagering millions around Las Vegas.