Money swiped from Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani eventually made its way to Resorts World Las Vegas casino and a tribal gaming property in California, according to ESPN.
Shohei Ohtani, pictured above. Money stolen from the Los Angeles Dodgers player made its way to Resorts World Las Vegas, ESPN reported. He was unaware of the thefts. (Image: Los Angeles Times)
The cash was put into gaming accounts at the two casinos and then turned into gambling chips, the recent report said. After the chips were cashed, the money went to California-based bookmaker Mathew Bowyer or his associate, according to ESPN.
Pechanga Resort Casino, a tribal gaming property in California, also was used in the operation, the report said.
The role of these casinos came to light after now ex-translator, Ippei Mizuhara, allegedly stole $16M from Ohtani’s bank account to cover massive gambling debts.
Mizuhara faces bank fraud charges. His gambling debts are estimated at $40.7M, feds have revealed. He often paid his bookie $500K, money that would wind up at the two casinos before being turned into chips.
Ohtani is seen as an innocent victim in the unfolding story.
Bookmaker Was a ‘Whale’
It also was revealed that Bowyer frequently gambled at Resorts World. He lost $7.9M at the property between June 2022 and October 2023, ESPN reported.
Due to his frequent visits to Vegas casinos and numerous losses, Bowyer was described by ESPN as a “whale.”
Bowyer also frequented such Vegas casinos as The Cosmopolitan and the Aria Resort & Casino, and Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino, the report revealed. At times, he also gambled at the MGM Grand, the Palazzo, and the Venetian, sources told ESPN.
Also, since a federal raid of his residence, Bowyer was ordered to not enter multiple U.S. gaming properties, according to ESPN.
So far, Bowyer and the unidentified associate weren’t named in publicly-available indictments, the report revealed. When reached by ESPN, lawyers representing the two men chose not to release statements on the scandal.
As more information is revealed, Resorts World is frequently mentioned in what the feds are calling an inquiry into “illegal sports bookmaking organizations operating in Southern California, and the laundering of the proceeds of these operations through casinos in Las Vegas,” ESPN reported.
The feds presented Resorts World a subpoena in August for various documents including those related to anti-money laundering, the Nevada Current has reported.
Resorts World ‘Cooperating’
In a recent statement to ESPN, Resorts World Las Vegas said it “takes any suggestion of violations seriously and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.”
Two Las Vegas casinos said they will pay penalties as a result of the investigation, ESPN reported. So far, 12 suspects were charged or convicted.
Scott Sibella, who headed Resorts World until he was fired in September, already pleaded guilty to charges linked to when he was president of MGM Grand. He’s scheduled to be sentenced later this month. The feds said he failed to take appropriate steps after wrongdoing by California bookie Wayne Nix.
Nix is to be sentenced for operating an illegal gambling business and filing a false tax return.
Casino.org reached out to Resorts World for a comment on the allegations. No immediate statement was provided.
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