The NFL has recently witnessed its fair share of gambling scandals, with several star players receiving suspensions for sports betting-related violations. Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley was reinstated last March after sitting out the entire 2022 season due to a betting suspension.
However, sports betting controversies aren’t limited to the NFL. The MLB and NBA are currently embroiled in separate gambling controversies that raise questions about player conduct and the integrity of the games themselves.
There are speculations circulating about LA Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani following reports that his former interpreter and friend Ippei Mizuhara misused $4.5 million of the player’s money to settle gambling debts. Meanwhile, Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter is under investigation by the NBA due to his involvement in questionable betting activities.
MLB’s Shohei Ohtani Denies Paying Off His Interpreter’s Gambling Debt
The baseball world was rocked by allegations that Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar pitcher and hitter, had unwittingly become entangled in a gambling scandal. According to reports, Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was accused of using millions of dollars belonging to the player to settle hefty gambling debts.
At first, rumors had it that the talented Japanese two-way player reportedly loaned a substantial sum of money, estimated at $4.5 million, to his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. The news comes days after Dodgers’ rivals Oakland A’s released renderings of their new stadium in Las Vegas.
However, the LA Dodgers superstar addressed the explosive allegations during a press conference on March 25 in Los Angeles. Ohtani vehemently denied any involvement in gambling activities and accused his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, of stealing millions of dollars from his bank account.
The controversy erupted when investigative reports revealed that $4.5 million had been wired from Ohtani’s bank account to a sportsbook. Initially, Mizuhara claimed that he had asked Ohtani to pay off his gambling debts, but the baseball star’s lawyers promptly refuted the claim, asserting that Ohtani was “the victim of a massive theft” by his friend.
Mizuhara revised his account the next day after Ohtani’s legal team released a statement claiming the athlete had been defrauded. Mizuhara informed AP News that Ohtani was unaware of the gambling debts and had not made any payments to the sportsbooks.
MLB Launches Investigation
As the allegations surfaced, MLB officials swiftly announced an investigation into the matter, recognizing the gravity of the situation and the need to maintain the integrity of the sport.
Fans and gamblers alike were left speculating about the true nature of the events, with some questioning whether Ohtani had been robbed by his trusted interpreter or had inadvertently aided Mizuhara’s gambling activities. While sports betting is legal in 38 states, it remains illegal in California, where the Dodgers are based.
Bets made across state lines or through offshore websites can trigger legal complications that attract the attention of federal law enforcement agencies. According to reports, the alleged sports betting operation linked to the Ohtani case is already under federal investigation.
MLB’s Department of Investigations, created in 2008 in the wake of the Mitchell Report into illegal steroid use, will spearhead the Ohtani probe. The league has significant authority over Ohtani and other persons employed by MLB teams, who are contractually bound to cooperate with such investigations.
Despite its investigative powers, MLB faces several hurdles in attempting to compile evidence in the Ohtani case. The Dodgers’ firing of Mizuhara, the interpreter at the center of the scandal, is both a significant and ambiguous development.
Depending on the nature of his employment and the terms of his termination, Mizuhara may be bound by non-disclosure obligations that could condition his continued receipt of payments from the Dodgers to keep quiet. MLB could compel the Dodgers to relieve Mizuhara of these restrictions.
The league has a track record of aggressively seeking facts and evidence in high-profile investigations. During the Pete Rose betting scandal, MLB extracted information from Rose’s bookie to build its case. When investigating the Biogenesis clinic’s alleged supply of performance-enhancing drugs to players, the league sued the Florida clinic to obtain client records.
NBA’s Jontay Porter Under Scrutiny for Betting Irregularities
In the NBA, Jontay Porter, a Toronto Raptors center, has found himself at the center of an investigation into alleged betting irregularities. The league’s probe focuses on unusually large prop bets placed on Porter’s performance during the January 26 and March 20 games.
Prop betting, short for proposition betting, involves wagering on specific player statistics within a game, such as whether a player will score over or under a certain number of points, rebounds, or assists. While prop bets on fringe players like Porter may seem unusual, they have become a popular and lucrative market for sports betting apps catering to casual bettors.
According to reports, bookmakers noticed a sharp increase in betting activity on the “under” props for Porter’s statistical lines in both games, with attempts to place wagers as high as $10,000 to $20,000 despite typical limits of around $1,000 to $2,000 for such bets.
Remarkably, these “under” bets paid out after Porter exited both games early, citing an eye injury after playing just four minutes against the Clippers and an illness after only three minutes against the Kings. The timing of Porter’s early exits and the unusual betting patterns raised significant red flags within the sports betting industry.
While the Jontay Porter controversy lacks the staggering monetary figures of the Shohei Ohtani case, it arguably poses a more severe threat to the integrity of professional sports. If evidence emerges that Porter intentionally manipulated his on-court statistics to influence prop betting outcomes, it would strike at the very core of the NBA’s integrity and the essence of fair competition.
Wrapping Up
The recent gambling scandals involving star players in the NFL, MLB, and NBA have raised concerns about player conduct and the integrity of professional sports. The allegations against Shohei Ohtani and Jontay Porter highlight the potential risks posed by gambling controversies and the importance of upholding the integrity of sports leagues through thorough investigations and transparency.
