He further enhanced his finances by engaging in sports betting with affluent friends, serving as their bookie.

However, a pivotal moment occurred when, at the age of 19, he faced impending fatherhood with his high school sweetheart. His side endeavors and full-time job at a Mexican restaurant would no longer suffice.

A regular diner, who owned a commodities company, recognized Bowyer’s potential and offered him a brokerage role. Earning $300,000 before turning 25 might prompt others to settle in their career, but Bowyer viewed it as just a stepping stone to grow his sports betting business—many of his affluent colleagues easily became clients.

Illuminated Path

During his birthday celebration at the New York-New York Casino, he managed to win $28,000 at blackjack. Although he faced losses in subsequent visits, Bowyer perceived the Strip as not just a source of entertainment but a potential hunting ground for clients.

Access to affluent gamblers through VIP hosts and complimentary accommodations allowed him to transition from brokerage life. By the age of 30, he had exited brokerage, transforming friends and co-workers into “agents” earning commissions from bettors.

By 2018, Bowyer’s side venture evolved into one of the most prominent illegal sports betting networks in the United States, processing bets from around 700 gamblers nationally.

An Unforeseen Encounter

On September 8, 2021, Bowyer — now a remarried 46-year-old father of five — participated in a high-stakes poker event in San Diego endorsed by LA Angels players. It was here that he met the individual who would lead to his downfall.

Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter and close associate, caught Bowyer’s attention with his relentless betting on soccer games during poker hands.

Intrigued, Bowyer approached Mizuhara, generously offering free credit through his website. Over 2.5 years, Mizuhara placed at least 19,000 bets via AnyActionSports.com, with totals ranging from $325-$326 million ($142 million in wins, $183 million in losses).

Fresh Faces on the Boulevard

In February 2022, Bowyer visited Resorts World Las Vegas for the first time. As the first new establishment on the Las Vegas Strip in a decade, it had opened a year prior in a location once associated with mob associate Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal.

As the new player in Vegas, Resorts World lacked the connections to high-rollers that its competitors had nurtured for years. Therefore, per a complaint that would later be brought by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the casino drew in bookies, laundering illicit earnings into legitimate chips for gaming.

Through 80 visits over two years, Bowyer lost millions while fostering client relationships.

On March 20, 2024, ESPN and the LA Times reported that a bank account belonging to Ohtani — who had just signed a record $700 million contract with the LA Dodgers — had transferred millions to Bowyer.

Initially, federal agencies (DHS, IRS, MLB investigators, and Nevada regulators) speculated a corruption scandal echoing the infamous 1919 Black Sox. However, after confirming Mizuhara’s theft, the investigation shifted to a less extensive scandal.

An amendment to the US Bank Secrecy Act enacted in 1985 mandated that Nevada casinos must determine the source of funds for any wager exceeding $10,000, and file suspicious activity reports for wagers above $5,000 that hold potential ties to illegal origins.

Regulators later claimed that Resorts World, Caesars, and MGM turned a blind eye, allowing Bowyer to squander millions despite unverified funds between 2017 to 2024. This highlighted systemic negligence across the Strip, indicating casinos prioritized profits over compliance.

Ultimately, Resorts World agreed to a $10.5 million settlement, MGM Resorts $8.5 million, and Caesars Entertainment $7.8 million to resolve charges without admitting guilt.

In 2024, Bowyer pled guilty to illegal gambling, money laundering, and submitting a false tax return. He received a sentence of 12 months and one day — which he began on October 10, 2025, at the Federal Correctional Institution in Lompoc, California — along with a restitution of $1.6 million.

This case is now recognized as a pivotal moment in Nevada gaming history, underscoring that corporate Las Vegas operated similarly to the mob-ridden Stardust it sought to distance itself from.