• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Tuned In is Almost Sold Out! Limited Tickets Remain!

New Report Shows How Bookie Laundered Ohtani’s Stolen Cash

  • The casino in question has a history with illegal funds.
  • The money trail is part of an ongoing federal probe into Ohtani’s former interpreter.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Shohei Ohtani’s stolen money has taken the government up Interstate 15 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. 

The millions of dollars stolen by Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, to pay off illegal bookmakers ended up deposited in gambling accounts at casinos in California and Las Vegas, according to ESPN. From there, they were converted into chips and cashed out to pay the bookies. 

The money trail is the latest revelation in the federal investigation surrounding Ohtani’s money after Mizuhara stole more than $16 million from the Dodgers’ star to drive his gambling addiction. 

Mizuhara placed his bets with Mathew Bowyer, an illegal bookie based out of Southern California. ESPN reported Mizuhara paid Bowyer through an “associate,” who sent the money to a “marker” account at Resorts World, a Vegas-based casino. Bowyer and his comrade withdrew the money in the form of chips at Resorts World to gamble. 

Bowyer lost $7.9 million from gambling at Resorts World from June 2022 to October ’23, ESPN reported, and was banned from U.S. casinos last year after a federal raid on his alleged bookmaking operation.

“Resorts World is at the center” of a federal investigation into gambling and money laundering, according to the ESPN story.

The off-Strip luxury hotel opened in 2021 and was issued a federal subpoena in August ’23 for documents related to its anti-money laundering policies. 

Scott Sibella, the original president and chief operating officer of Resorts World, is slated to be sentenced May 8 for federal charges of failing to report suspicious gambling activity to the federal government while serving as MGM Grand’s president in 2018, a year before he left to run Resorts World. 

That investigation was tied to Wayne Nix, another Southern California bookie, whose clients included NBA legend Scottie Pippen, LeBron James’s business partner Maverick Carter, and former Dodger Yasiel Puig. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Lachlan Murdoch’s Victory Brings Stability to Fox Sports Rights Future

The network’s status quo is solidified in the complex financial settlement.
StubHub

StubHub Seeks Big Valuation in Revived IPO Despite $112M Loss

The ticket marketplace looks to raise as much as $851 million.
Blue Jays
exclusive

MLBPA, DraftKings Agree to Settle NIL Suit

MLBPA said DraftKings and other sportsbooks improperly used players’ NIL.
Sep 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Adoree' Jackson (8) tackles Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) during the third quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field.

Kalshi’s $27M NFL Opener Runs Into Tribal Challenge

California Tribes want Kalshi forced to implement geofencing.

Featured Today

Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.

As Bills Ascend, Their Next Frontier Lies in Canada

Buffalo and the powerful Canadian entity MLSE come together in a new pact.
opinion
September 9, 2025

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from NFL’s Week 1 Broadcasts

Many viewers decried the addition of ads to “NFL RedZone.”
Aug 23, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) leads the team onto the field for warm ups before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
September 7, 2025

Slow Burn: The NFL’s Private-Equity Era So Far

Three deals have been struck to date. But the league is bullish.
Tennis
September 5, 2025

The US Open Is Groaning Under the Weight of Its Own Success

New York’s tennis major is more popular than ever.
Eagles

FanDuel Paying $80K for Eagles Trains Amid Transit Funding Fight

The gambling company is giving stopgap transit funding in Philadelphia.
during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, August 31, 2025.
September 2, 2025

Underdog Bets on Prediction Markets With Crypto.com Deal

Sports event contracts will be offered in 16 states.
Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; TCU Horned Frogs tight end DJ Rogers (0) catches a touchdown pass as North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Kaleb Cost (21) defends in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium.
September 3, 2025

Polymarket Moves Closer to Reentering the U.S.

There’s yet more prediction markets momentum as the NFL season kicks off.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
Rob Bonta
August 29, 2025

Users Sue Daily Fantasy Companies After California Calls Them Illegal

Underdog Sports and Boom Fantasy were separately sued.
Saquon Barkley
August 25, 2025

NFL Warns Prediction Markets Are Sports Betting With Less Oversight

League officials say the markets “mimic” sports betting.
Malik Beasley
August 22, 2025

Malik Beasley Could Still Be Charged in Gambling Probe Despite Feds Dropping..

Beasley’s lawyer is hoping his client can return to the NBA.
A view of the FanDuel Sportsbook betting area at Belterra Park Cincinnati.
August 20, 2025

FanDuel Enters Prediction Markets, but With No Sports

The company is partnering with derivatives exchange CME Group.