The Los Angeles Dodgers have fired the interpreter for MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani amid allegations of theft and involvement in an ongoing California sports betting scandal.
This explosive report comes from ESPN’s Tisha Thompson, who expertly detailed a series of, frankly, wild events.
Ippei Mizuhara, 33, is not just the longtime translator for the 29-year-old Shohei Ohtani, but the two are also considered close friends. The former allegedly transferred around $4.5 million from Ohtani’s accounts to cover his debts from betting on sports in California. Though it seems Ohtani was aware of at least some of these transactions, Mizuhara was dismissed by the Dodgers after seemingly more extensive issues came to light.
“In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities,” Ohtani’s lawyers from Berk Brettler LLP said in a statement.
This news is smack-us-in-the-face significant for a multitude of reasons. Ohtani is perhaps the most popular and valuable MLB superstar at the moment. He also just signed with the Dodgers during 2024 MLB free agency.
On top of all that, and perhaps most notably, Mizuhara’s gambling debt underscores the complicated relationship the United States currently has with sports betting. And the intrigue here increases tenfold, because sports gambling in California remains illegal. Mizuhara’s use of bookmakers inside The Golden State, however, is further proof of what we already knew: people in California bet on sports anyway.
Details Surrounding the Shohei Ohtani Interpreter Scandal Still Trickling Out
There are a lot of moving parts to this scandal involving a direct contact of Shohei Ohtani. The alleged theft of significant funds by Ippei Mizuhara, who earned between $300,000 and $500,000 annually for serving as Ohtani’s translator, is of course a big deal. It is both a legal and personal matter.
However, Mizuhara made it clear during interviews that Ohtani does not bet on sports. Mizuhara also stated that he did not bet on MLB odds or lines. Nationally, the bigger issue might be that Shohei Ohtani is now linked to an ongoing California sports betting scandal. As Thompson reported:
“The developments this week came as federal investigators are examining the operation run by Southern California bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. The wire-transfer payments were sent from Ohtani's account to an associate of Bowyer's, according to multiple sources and bank data reviewed by ESPN. Multiple sources, including Mizuhara, told ESPN that Ohtani does not gamble and that the funds covered Mizuhara's losses. ESPN had reviewed bank information showing Ohtani's name on two $500,000 payments sent in September and October.
“Sources close to the gambling operation told ESPN that Bowyer dealt directly with Mizuhara, who placed bets on international soccer matches and other sports -- but not baseball -- starting in 2021. A source said Bowyer was aware of the name on the wire transfers but chose not to ask any questions as long as payments came in; however, the source said Bowyer allowed people to believe Ohtani was a client in order to boost business.”
All of this begets a much larger issue facing the United States: grappling with the morality of sports betting in addition to the legality of it.
Could Controversies Like This Slow the Legalization of Sports Betting in California?
California is now wrapped up in both sides of the issue. Sports gambling remains illegal inside the state, and that’s not expected to change anytime soon.
A 2022 attempt to green light sports betting wound up capsizing amid warring stances when it came to allowing top online sportsbooks in the USA to enter the market. That issue endures—so much so the state legislature doesn’t even have a California sports betting bill on which to vote in 2024. As a result, the earliest sports gambling can come to The Golden State is 2026. That’s when the next general election takes place following 2024’s process. And some seriously question whether California will legalize sports betting before 2030.
Controversies like the one involving the interpreter for Shohei Ohtani won’t help assuage opposition to legal sports betting in California. Heck even states that have legalized it are trying to reconcile the uptick in problem gambling data and the increase in general sports betting scandals.
Sports Betting Scandals in the USA are Becoming More Common
In the last year, we have heard about an Alabama college baseball betting controversy that spotlighted the potential for coaches to influence game details and outcomes. The NFL has already issued multiple suspensions for players who violated the league’s sports betting policies. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before we hear of more sinister issues.
Additionally, the popularity of sports betting in the USA has led to problems with athlete and coach safety. J.B. Bickerstaff, the head coach for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, recently detailed an incident in which a disgruntled sports bettor threatened him and his family.
Whether the Shohei Ohtani scandal ultimately impacts the majority view on California sports betting beyond 2024 remains to be seen. Chances are, it won’t change much.
It’s another supporting factor for opponents to acknowledge, but the state is already struggling to overhaul gaming laws. While the interpreter for Shohei Ohtani stealing from his friend and employer to fund a sports gambling debt is big news and absolutely matters, it in all likelihood won’t delay the California sports betting discussion any further.
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