Podcast Host Mariana Van Zeller Slams Illegal Sports Gambling

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Nutty Newt

A former bookie with ties to a major sports casino has revealed shocking details about how corrupting gambling can be in professional sports. Matt Bowyer, 49, who has been imprisoned for running an illegal betting business, told podcast host Mariana Van Zeller that he was able to convince people to subscribe to The Orange County Register and then used those funds to organize and host games.

Bowyer claimed that he had a good 'spiel' that would sell subscriptions, but he eventually became addicted himself. He began making money through his illegal bookie business, which lasted for five years, with a peak of $2 million in cash every two weeks. He even flew to Las Vegas on private jets to meet with clients.

However, it was discovered by the FBI and Major League Baseball that the person placing bets was not Ohtani himself but rather a former interpreter named Ippei Mizuhara, who had used $17 million from Ohtani's bank account to pay off his debts. Mizuhara was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for his role.

Van Zeller emphasized how widespread and addictive gambling is, stating that three million Americans struggle with compulsive gambling. She believes that the rise of sports betting has led to more addiction and violence. The host also expressed her frustration that people don't take this issue seriously enough.

"It's happening faster than anyone thought and it's going to keep going that way," Van Zeller said, "It's terrible for people who love sports and bad for the trust we have in sports and athletes. Players can be threatened by gamblers – especially college players who don't make so much money."

Van Zeller also pointed out that even MLB, which was once opposed to gambling, has now changed its stance, with ads for gaming sites appearing on television and newspapers.
 
🤦‍♂️ I mean, come on... $17 million just because someone got in over their head? That's like, a whole lot of money... 😱 Ippei Mizuhara should've been more careful with Ohtani's bank account, you know? It's not like it was some secret stash or something. And what's up with the sports betting industry not taking responsibility for this stuff? 🤔 They're making all this cash off these people and they don't care if someone gets addicted? It's just... 🙄

And Mariana Van Zeller is totally right, btw. Three million Americans are struggling with compulsive gambling. That's a lot of people... 😓 I mean, I get it, sports betting can be fun, but when it gets out of hand, it's serious business. And the worst part is that some people don't take it seriously because they think it's just about "having fun"... 🙄 Newsflash: it's not all about having fun. It's about addiction and harm to yourself and others.

And can we talk about how MLB changed its stance on gambling? I mean, I get it, times are changing... but ads for gaming sites on TV and in newspapers? That's just weird... 🤔
 
I don’t usually comment but it’s crazy to think about how much money is involved in something as addictive as sports betting 🤑. I mean, $2 million every two weeks? That's insane! And the fact that Ohtani was being exploited by someone using his own bank account for debts is just devastating 😔.

I don’t know what Van Zeller said exactly but it sounds like she’s totally right about how widespread this problem is - 3 million Americans struggling with compulsive gambling? That's a lot of people 🤯. And the thing that bothers me most is how fast sports betting has become normalised, especially in the MLB 📺. It feels like they're just cashing in on it without really caring about the consequences.

I don’t know if I'd ever try my hand at gambling but hearing stories like this makes me glad I wouldn't take that risk 😅. Maybe there should be more awareness campaigns to help people understand the risks and get help before it's too late?
 
Gambling - it's like a never-ending spiral 🌀. One minute you're making that easy cash, the next you're drowning in debt and shame 💸😩. I mean, who is this guy Matt Bowyer? He was able to sell people on his 'spiel' but then what happened? He got hooked too? That's like a masterclass in how corrupting power can be 🤑.

And three million Americans struggling with compulsive gambling? That's just staggering 🤯. It's not just the addiction, it's the violence that comes with it. Players being threatened by gamblers? That's just awful 😷. And now MLB is embracing sports betting like it's going out of style? I don't get it. Don't they care about the trust? The integrity of the game? It's all just a big mess 🤦‍♂️.

I guess what really gets me is that we're so used to seeing these high-rollers and professional gamblers, but no one talks about the human cost 🌎. We see Ohtani getting hit with a 17 million dollar bill for some guy's debt? That's just not right 😠.
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around how corrupting sports betting can be 🤯... I mean, who would've thought that you'd see pro athletes being threatened by gamblers? It's like, these guys are supposed to be role models, not pawns in some sick game of chance. And it's not just the players themselves, but also their families and friends who get caught up in this toxic world. The fact that there are millions of Americans struggling with compulsive gambling is just heartbreaking 🤕... I feel like we need to have a bigger conversation about how sports betting is affecting our society as a whole. It's not just about the money, it's about the lives being ruined by addiction and the trust being broken in sports. We need more awareness and education on this issue, for sure 😔
 
OMG 🤯 this is crazy! I mean, can you believe a former bookie had access to millions of dollars from Ohtani's bank account just because he convinced people to subscribe to a newspaper? It's wild how addictive gambling can be 😲. Bowyer even got caught up in it himself and started making that kind of cash 🤑. But what's really disturbing is the scale of this problem - 3 million Americans struggling with compulsive gambling, and it's not just limited to sports betting, but also leads to violence 💔. I think Van Zeller makes a point that we need to take this seriously and hold everyone accountable, from bookies like Bowyer to major leagues like MLB 📺. It's time for a change in the way we approach sports betting and its impact on society 🌎
 
I'm telling you, it's like they say - greed is the devil's work 💸. This guy Bowyer thought he had a good deal going on, but in the end, he got caught up in his own addiction. And then you've got people like Ohtani getting messed with because of his bank account 🤑. It's crazy to think that sports betting can lead to all this drama and even violence. I mean, three million Americans are struggling with it? That's just insane 😱. And now MLB is just embracing the gaming sites? It feels like they're trying to normalize it or something. Newsflash: we don't need more addiction in our sports, especially not when it comes to college players 🏈. We need to start taking this stuff seriously and supporting each other, not just lining our pockets 💸💰.
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around how easily someone like Matt Bowyer can get caught up in the whole thing... like, he's got this "spiel" that sells subscriptions left and right, but then he becomes addicted himself? 🤯 It's crazy how that works. And $2 million every two weeks is insane! I mean, I get it, sports betting is a big deal now, especially with the rise of online gaming... but three million Americans struggling with compulsive gambling is just... wow. It's like, we need to take this stuff seriously and not just see it as some harmless fun. And yeah, I can see how the more legit sports organizations start to make money off of these ads, it can be a slippery slope, you know? 🤑
 
🤕 This is just heartbreaking to hear about Matt Bowyer's experience. It sounds like he got caught up in this cycle of addiction and it literally ruined his life. And what's even more disturbing is that it was affecting real people, especially the young athletes 🏆. The stats she mentioned are crazy - 3 million Americans struggling with compulsive gambling? That's just too much 😩. It's like everyone got caught up in this sports betting craze without stopping to think about the consequences.

And what really gets me is how it's affecting the trust we have in sports and athletes 🤝. I mean, who wants to root for someone who's being manipulated or threatened by gamblers? It's just not right 😔. And MLB going from opposing sports betting to now embracing it with ads... it's like they're enabling this problem rather than trying to fix it 🤑.

It's time for us to take a step back and really think about the impact of all this on our communities, our athletes, and ourselves 💭. We can't just sit back and watch as more people get hurt by this addiction 😔.
 
🤯 I'm totally shocked to hear about this Matt Bowyer guy and how he got in deep with sports betting. It's like, I get it, it sounds alluring to make that kind of cash, but it's just crazy how addictive it can be! And then to find out that the person placing bets was actually some poor dude who used Ohtani's bank account to pay off his debts... ouch 🤑

And what really gets me is that Mariana Van Zeller is right, it's happening way too fast and it's a huge problem. I mean, we all love sports and watching our faves play, but this stuff is just not cool. Players being threatened by gamblers? That's just wrong 😡.

It's crazy how the MLB used to be against sports betting but now they're all about it... I guess that's just progress, right? 🤷‍♂️ But seriously, we need to take this stuff more seriously and help people who are struggling with compulsive gambling. It's a huge issue and we should all be paying attention! 💸
 
🤯 I'm literally shook by this whole thing! Matt Bowyer's story is like something straight out of a movie, you know? Like the part where he flew private jets to Vegas to meet clients, it's wild. But what's even crazier is that it all came crashing down because of one guy who was using Ohtani's own bank account funds to pay off his debts 😳.

And can we talk about how messed up the sports betting scene is? Three million Americans are struggling with compulsive gambling and it's getting worse, not better. I feel like Mariana Van Zeller is totally right when she says that people aren't taking this issue seriously enough. It's time for us to wake up and realize that this isn't just a harmless hobby, but a serious problem that's ruining lives.

And what's even more frustrating is that the sports world itself is now promoting gambling through ads on TV and newspapers. It's like they're actively encouraging people to get hooked, and then just shrugging it off when someone gets addicted 😒. We need to hold everyone accountable here, from the players to the leagues to the advertisers. This whole thing is a total mess! 🤯
 
OMG 🤯 I'm like super concerned about this whole thing! It's crazy how addictive betting can be, especially when it comes to sports. I mean, we all know some athletes struggle with their finances, but it's not something you see in the news often enough. 3 million Americans are affected by compulsive gambling, which is like a huge number 🤯. And now, people don't even take it seriously anymore? It's like, come on! Sports should be about the game, not the benjamins 💸. The way MLB has changed its stance on this is also super concerning. I mean, where did that money go? TV ads for gaming sites? That just seems so wrong 🤷‍♂️.
 
You know, it's crazy how quickly we can get sucked into the vortex of addiction 🤯... I mean, Matt Bowyer, this guy is living proof that money and power can be a real curse 😬. He was making all that cash off people's vices, but in the end, he ended up losing himself to it. And let's not forget about the harm it caused to other people, like Ohtani and his team... it's just a reminder that we gotta be careful what we wish for 💸.

And it's wild how fast sports betting can take over someone's life... three million Americans struggling with compulsive gambling? That's a lot of people 🤯. I think we need to have more conversations about the risks and consequences, instead of just letting it fester in the shadows 👍. Maybe then we can work towards creating a healthier relationship between sports and money 💪.
 
😕 The sports betting industry is like a snowball rolling down the hill, gaining speed and size as it goes, and it's really scary. I mean think about it, three million Americans are struggling with compulsive gambling, that's like having 1 in 10 people addicted to something that can ruin their lives.

The thing that blows my mind is how easily Matt Bowyer got hooked on the whole thing himself. He started out just trying to make a buck, but then he was making $2 million every two weeks and flying private jets to Vegas. And we're supposed to believe he's some kind of expert now? It's like he's saying "hey look at me, I'm so smart" when really he's just a guy who got in over his head.

And what's even more shocking is that this wasn't an isolated incident. There are countless other cases out there where players are being threatened and blackmailed by gamblers. It's like the sports world has become a playground for predators, and it's not fair to the athletes or the fans who just want to enjoy the game without worrying about some shady character trying to take advantage of them.

The MLB thing is especially crazy because they used to be so opposed to sports betting. Now they're basically rolling out the red carpet for gaming sites to advertise on their platforms. It's like they're trying to make a buck off the addiction of millions of people, and that just feels wrong.
 
I'm totally blown away by this exposé 🤯! It's like, we all know that sports betting is a bad thing, but to see it on such a massive scale... it's just mind-blowing 😲. And what really gets me is how it's affecting these young athletes, especially college players who are already vulnerable 🤕. The thought of them being threatened by gamblers because they can't keep up with the demands of sports is just heartbreaking ❤️.

We need to take this issue seriously, you know? It's not just about the money or the thrill of it all; it's about people losing their lives over a bet 🚨. And what's even more worrying is that MLB is now embracing gaming sites... like, how did we get here? 😩 We need to be aware of these issues and support those who are affected 💕.

Three million Americans struggling with compulsive gambling is just staggering 🤯. It's time for us to come together and talk about this stuff, share our experiences, and support each other 💬. We can't just sit back and watch as people lose their way 🌴.
 
🚨 This is wild! I mean, $2 million every two weeks? That's crazy! And the fact that it's a huge problem in professional sports is no joke 🤯. I'm glad Mariana Van Zeller is speaking out about this because it needs to be talked about more. It's not just about Ohtani and the MLB, but about the whole industry being corrupted by greed 💸. And the fact that players are being threatened by gamblers? That's just terrible 🤕. I feel like we're living in a movie where sports stars are getting pulled into this toxic world 🏟️.
 
omg u guys cant believe this story!!! 🤯 matt bowyer is like the ultimate gambler 🤑 he went from convincing ppl to subscribe to his paper to flying 2 las vegas on private jets 2 meet w/ clients 🛫️ but then he got caught & sentenced 2 57 months in prison 🚔 i feel bad 4 him tho, addiction is real & u can never predict when it's gonna hit u 💔

anywayz, mariana van zeller is like the voice of reason here 🙏 she's all about exposing the truth & making ppl aware of the dangers of gambling 📊 3 million americans are affected by compulsive gambling & it's getting worse w/ each passing day 🚨 i'm all 4 her take on this cuz sports betting is like a whole 'nother level of corrupt 😳 u can't even trust the players no more 🤷‍♀️ MLB should be ashamed of themselves 4 changing their stance on gambling 🙅‍♂️
 
Ugh, can't believe people are getting all worked up over this stuff 🤦‍♂️. I mean, come on, it's just sports betting... what's the big deal? 🤑 Matt Bowyer sounds like a total loser to me, thinking he could run an illegal bookie business and get away with it. 57 months in federal prison? Boo hoo, maybe he should've thought of that before he got caught 🤷‍♂️. And what's with all the drama about Ohtani and Mizuhara? It's just a guy who made some bad bets... big whoop 🙄. The Orange County Register is just trying to get attention by stirring up controversy, but let's be real, people are gonna keep betting no matter what 😂.
 
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