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Tag: Mathew Bowyer

  • Illegal Bookie Mathew Bowyer Nominated to Nevada’s Black Book – Casino.org

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    Posted on: January 14, 2026, 11:09h. 

    Last updated on: January 14, 2026, 11:38h.

    • The Nevada Gaming Control Board nominated convicted illegal bookie Mathew Bowyer to the state’s permanent Black Book exclusion list on Wednesday
    • Bowyer’s gambling ring, linked to Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, triggered $26.8 million in Las Vegas casino money-laundering fines in 2025
    • If approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission, Bowyer faces a lifetime ban from all Nevada casinos 

    The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) on Wednesday nominated Mathew Bowyer to the state’s List of Excluded Persons — the notorious “Black Book” of individuals permanently banned from all Nevada casinos. Bowyer is the convicted illegal bookmaker whose gambling at Resorts World and various MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment properties cost Las Vegas casino operators $26.8 million in money-laundering fines last year.

    Mathew Bowyer, 50, began serving a one-year prison sentence in October 2025. (Image: Facebook/Mathew Bowyer)

    The Nevada Gaming Commission has the final say on whether Bowyer gets added to the Black Book, which currently contains 37 names. However, at least concerning Black Book matters, the Commission nearly always approves a nomination made by the NGCB.

    Bowyer, now serving more than a year in federal prison, became eligible for nomination after pleading guilty in 2023 to running a sprawling illegal gambling ring, laundering money, and filing a false tax return. He has the right to a hearing to refute the accusations against him.

    Bowyer is scheduled to be released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Lompoc, Calif. on August 16, 2026.

    A Dishonor Just to be Nominated

    Shohei Ohtani speaks with his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, prior to being introduced by the LA Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on December 14, 2023. (Image: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

    Bowyer’s illegal gambling empire handled wagers from roughly 700 bettors — most famously including Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. (Mizuhara was sentenced in February to four years in prison for stealing $17 million from Ohtani to cover his debts.)

    In 2025, Bowyer’s activities were cited in disciplinary cases that resulted in a $10.5 million fine against Resorts World, an $8.5 million fine against MGM Resorts International, and a $7.8 million fine against Caesars Entertainment.

    At Wednesday’s hearing, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, NGCB chair Mike Dreitzer said it was important to make an example of Bowyer.

    “Normally, I wouldn’t give much airtime to this particular individual in this particular setting,” Dreitzer said, according to the R-J. “However, I think it’s important to note that today the board takes an action that goes to the very core and the heart of Nevada’s gaming regulatory mission — the protection of integrity of gaming, the confidence of the public, and the reputation of the state as a gold standard for gaming regulation.”

    Dreitzer emphasized that exclusion is rare and reserved for cases where allowing someone into casinos would “erode public confidence” or “tarnish the reputation Nevada has spent decades building.” Bowyer, he said, exemplifies why the Black Book exists.

    Bowyer is the second person nominated to the Black Book in only two months. In December, the NGCB unanimously recommended to exclude Wayne Nix, the former minor‑league baseball player-turned- illegal bookie whose operations led to the downfall of Resorts World President and COO Scott Sibella. Nix pleaded guilty in 2022 to operating an illegal gambling business and filing a false tax return.

    The Nevada Gaming Commission last added someone to the list in April 2024. It was Neal Ahmad Hearne, 45, of North Las Vegas, who was twice-convicted of felony theft for grabbing casino chips off blackjack tables and fleeing — once at Aria in 2018 (attempted theft) and again at Silverton (theft).

     

     

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    Corey Levitan

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  • Nevada Regulators Investigate Resorts World • This Week in Gambling

    Nevada Regulators Investigate Resorts World • This Week in Gambling

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    Something isn’t quite right at Resorts World Las Vegas these days. In fact, the Nevada Gaming Control Board believes the casino has participated in “significant regulatory breaches” tied to organized crime, illegal bookmaking, and individuals with histories of gambling-related felonies. Now, the Board has filed a disciplinary complaint. The 31-page complaint levels twelve counts against Resorts World, claiming the casino failed to adhere to state anti-money laundering regulations, and that it lacked effective control over its operations. It also accuses the resort of overlooking suspicious activities for financial gain, potentially tarnishing the reputation of Nevada’s gaming industry.

    Details of the allegations include claims that the casino allowed Mathew Bowyer, a Southern California bookmaker who recently admitted to operating an illegal gambling scheme, to place thousands of bets over a 15-month span.  It further alleges that Mr. Bowyer lost more than $6.6 million during this period, while benefiting from various perks provided by the casino, such as gifts, discounts, and flights on Resorts World’s private jet.

    The complaint mentions other individuals such as Edwin Ting, who was convicted of running an illegal gambling business and has ties to organized crime; Chad Iwamoto, who was convicted of transmitting wagering information and neglecting to file tax returns; and another person suspected of illegal bookmaking activities. The board also believes that the casino granted significant credit to individuals with known criminal histories connected to illegal gambling and organized crime.

    Bowyer was banned from Resorts World on October 6, 2023, following the execution of a federal warrant at his home. The resort also stated that they are “…committed to doing business with the utmost integrity and in compliance with applicable laws and industry guidelines.” They added that they are cooperating with the Gaming Control Board to resolve the issues and move forward. the Board responded by saying that “All suspected violations of Nevada’s gaming laws and regulations will be fully investigated and disciplinary action will be filed when warranted.”

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  • New details emerge in alleged gambling ring behind Shohei Ohtani-Ippei Mizuhara scandal

    New details emerge in alleged gambling ring behind Shohei Ohtani-Ippei Mizuhara scandal

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    Shohei Ohtani is still just playing baseball after being all but cleared in the Ippei Mizuhara scandal. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

    If you were curious about what exactly happened to Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s money after it was allegedly stolen by his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, a new report from ESPN’s Tisha Thompson has shed new light on the situation.

    The man at the center of the alleged illegal gambling ring that received Ohtani’s money was Mathew Bowyer, who has been under investigation by federal authorities since last year. Ohtani was only roped into the scandal when authorities noticed his bank information among the payments to Bowyer.

    Mizuhara reportedly funneled weekly $500,000 payments from Ohtani’s bank account to an associate of Bowyer’s to cover his illegal gambling losses. ESPN reports that associate would then deposit the money into accounts with Resorts World, a Las Vegas casino opened in 2021, and Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.

    Bowyer and the associate would then allegedly convert the money to playing chips, gamble with it and cash out if they won. Bowyer reportedly lost $7.9 million at Resorts World from June 2022 to October 2023, a span of time in which he was receiving money from Mizuhara.

    This is all apparently part of a much larger trend in the gambling world in which illegal bookies in Southern California use Las Vegas casinos to launder money. Twelve people have reportedly been charged and convicted, while two Vegas casinos have agreed to pay fines.

    There’s even a tangential connection to LeBron James. The Los Angeles Lakers star’s friend and business partner, Maverick Carter, reportedly admitted late last year that he bet on NBA games via an illegal bookie. ESPN reports that bookie, Wayne Nix, has since pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling business and filing a false tax return. NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen and former MLB star Yasiel Puig also reportedly made bets through Nix.

    In the case of Bowyer, he reportedly boasted more than 600 bettors and was known as a whale in Vegas, with a reputation for bringing between $250,000 and $1 million with him as often as two or three times per month.

    As far as Ohtani, the Dodgers and MLB, the Ippei Mizuhara situation is in the rear-view mirror.

    Mizuhara turned himself in on a federal charge of bank fraud earlier this month and is currently out on $25,000 bond. His attorney released a statement soon after indicating Mizuhara’s desire to cut a deal with prosecutors rather than go to trial, in which he would face up to 30 years in prison:

    Today Mr. Mizuhara voluntarily surrendered, made his initial appearance, and was released on bond as agreed to with the government. He is continuing to cooperate with the legal process and is hopeful that he can reach an agreement with the government to resolve this case as quickly as possible so that he can take responsibility.

    He wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani, the Dodgers, Major League Baseball, and his family. As noted in court, he is also eager to seek treatment for his gambling. We have no further comment at this time, but Mr. Mizuhara will be providing further comment as the legal process proceeds.

    To date, no reports of a deal have materialized, but that doesn’t mean negotiations aren’t happening.

    Meanwhile, MLB has released a statement recognizing that authorities see Ohtani as a victim, leaving them little to investigate.

    This is about as good of an outcome as Ohtani and his people could have hoped for after his name popped up on an illegal bookie’s ledger, but it remains a very sad situation. It has become clear that Mizuhara was both very close to Ohtani and suffered from enormous issues with gambling addiction.

    Now, Ohtani is just focusing on baseball again, while Mizuhara is sorting out an unenviable legal situation.

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