Shohei Ohtani’s Ex-Translator Never Gambled at Vegas’ Resorts World: Memo

Posted on: May 3, 2024, 06:23h. 

Last updated on: May 7, 2024, 10:45h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

The former translator, who’s at the heart of a scandal linked to Los Angeles Dodgers star player Shohei Ohtani, never gambled at Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV), according to a document obtained by Casino.org.

Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara
Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, pictured above. He’s at the center of a gambling scandal. (Image: AP)

A casino internal memo claims the interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, “has never been a patron of RWLV and has never had a player account with RWLV.”

There are no records of him ever setting foot on RWLV property nor having deposited any funds with RWLV,” the May 2 memo added.

Money stolen from Ohtani’s bank account by Mizuhara eventually made its way to RWLV and a tribal gaming property in California, Pechanga Resort Casino, ESPN reported this week.

The cash was put into gaming accounts at the two casinos and then turned into gambling chips, the report said. After the chips were cashed, the money went to California-based bookmaker Mathew Bowyer or his associate, according to ESPN.

Bowyer frequently gambled at Resorts World and lost $7.9M at the property between June 2022 and October 2023, ESPN reported.

The memo to employees stated that “Resorts World Las Vegas … has recently been referenced in the news regarding its relationship with certain former customers allegedly engaged in illegal activities, including individuals allegedly connected to illegal sports betting activities in Southern California and Nevada.”

Any connection between Mr. Mizuhara and these former RWLV customers was entirely unknown to RWLV until these allegations were made public,” the memo said.

The RWLV memo was authored by Gerald Gardner, the casino’s general counsel and senior vice president of government affairs.

He said in the memo that Resorts World “operates with the highest ethical standards” and the resort casino has been “voluntarily cooperating with law enforcement authorities” in inquiries.

The feds presented Resorts World a subpoena in August for various documents including those related to anti-money laundering, the Nevada Current has reported.

Mizuhara’s Role

ESPN reported that some $16M allegedly was stolen by Mizuhara from Ohtani’s bank account to cover the translator’s massive gambling debts.

Mizuhara faces bank fraud charges after racking up gambling debts estimated at $40.7M. He was fired by the Dodgers.

Ohtani is seen as an innocent victim in the unfolding story.

Report Suspicions

RWLV employees were reminded this week in the memo to report any suspicious activity to a supervisor, the property’s anti-money-laundering committee, or the compliance department.

This comes as former RWLV president Scott Sibella is the subject of a complaint by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) from activities dating back to when he was president at MGM Grand.

Sibella let illegal bookies gamble at MGM Grand without questioning the source of their funds, the complaint claims.

Fired by Resorts World in September for violating company policy, Sibella pleaded guilty in January to violating the Bank Secrecy Act. He’s scheduled to be sentenced next week.