The translator and close friend of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has been fired after being accused of illegal gambling and stealing from Japanese baseball players, drawing renewed attention to gambling addiction.
On Wednesday, the team fired Ippei Mizuhara, the translator who had been with Ohtani since he came to the United States in 2017, following reports that Ohtani had alleged ties to illegal bookmakers and had debts well in excess of $1 million.
The law firm representing Ohtani said in a statement that he was the victim of “massive theft.”
Mizuhara told ESPN this week that Ohtani knew nothing about his illegal bets on international soccer, NBA, NFL and college football. Mizuhara said Otani was an innocent victim of his friend’s gambling addiction.
What is problem gambling?
The National Council on Problem Gambling defines gambling addiction as “gambling behavior that is harmful to an individual or their family, often disrupting their daily lives and careers.”
Gambling addiction is a recognized mental health diagnosis, and the organization says anyone who gambles may be at risk of developing problems.
Symptoms include thinking about gambling all the time; feeling the need to bet more money more often; going back to try to win money back, called “chasing losses”; feeling out of control; continuing to gamble despite negative consequences.
How widespread is it?
The commission said about 2.5 million adults in the United States meet the criteria for a serious gambling problem. An additional 5 million to 8 million people are thought to have a mild or moderate gambling problem.
The 800-GAMBLER hotline can provide help and referrals, and Gamblers Anonymous also provides resources and support for people with gambling problems.
Where is sports betting legal?
Sports betting is legal in 38 U.S. states, as well as Washington, D.C., since a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a case filed in New Jersey opened the door to legal betting. More than 80% of sports betting is done online using a mobile phone or laptop.
This week, as the NCAA college basketball tournament begins, the American Gambling Association estimates Americans will bet $2.72 billion on the tournament through legal channels this year.
What measures are sports leagues taking against gambling?
Major professional sports leagues ban their players from gambling, and many impose penalties including fines, suspensions and lifetime bans for violations.
The most famous of these was baseball star Pete Rose, one of the hottest players in the history of the sport, who was banned for betting on games in which his team was playing.
Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement includes an annual spring training education program for players on safety and security, including issues related to sports betting and gambling.
Meanwhile, leagues — which had fiercely opposed legalizing sports betting outside of the four states that allowed it until 2018 — have become business partners with the largest bookmakers. Many teams and leagues have official sports betting partners and allow bookmakers to place advertisements at their venues. Some even have sports books open at their stadiums.
Is gambling legal in California or Japan?
Despite repeated attempts to get voters to legalize sports betting, sports betting is not legal in California. Most forms of gambling are banned in Japan, but horse racing, motorsports and public competitions involving bicycles, jet skis and motorcycles are allowed.
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