As Matt Bower stood outside the federal courthouse, a slight sweat beading on his meticulously groomed beard, the reality he faced became increasingly clear: the head of one of the largest illegal horse betting companies in the United States, after years of operating an illegal sports betting business, would be imprisoned within the next year.
Bower learned that his sentence would be about one year, significantly less than the 15 months earlier proposed by federal prosecutors. This difference stemmed from his active cooperation in the investigation—his testimony and assistance led to the prosecution of other involved parties. U.S. Federal Judge John W. Holcombe also ordered Bower to pay $1.6 million in restitution to compensate for the losses caused by the illegal gambling.
In court, Bower remained composed, expressing regret over the impact of the incident on world-renowned baseball player Shohei Ohtani. Notably, Bower's betting company was the platform used by Ohtani's former translator, Kazuhiro Suirano, which drew widespread media attention last summer.
Last year, Bower admitted to three charges related to his gambling business. The case had widespread implications, including several well-known casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, prompting these casinos to adjust their collaboration with veteran gambling companies. Bower is also a co-founder of a jiu-jitsu studio in Orange County, and he learned of his sentence in Courtroom 9D of the Ronald Reagan Federal Building, feeling complex and heavy-hearted.
Extensive client base, huge betting amounts
Besides Suirano, Bower's clients included doctors, lawyers, professional athletes, legendary baseball managers, relatives of former professional sports owners, and partners of Hollywood stars. Many clients bet amounts up to six figures weekly, demonstrating the huge appeal of sports betting among high-net-worth individuals. Insiders revealed that Bower's betting network spanned the U.S. East and West Coasts, with total weekly bets ranging from $7 million to $9 million.
Suirano's betting was particularly astonishing: over a few years, he placed about 19,000 bets through Bower's platform, totaling $325 million, with individual bets ranging from $10 to $160,000. Although Suirano accumulated about $40.6 million in debt, he repaid nearly 40% of it by misappropriating funds from Ohtani.
Illegal gambling operations and money laundering
Bower's illegal gambling business included a call center and a website based in Costa Rica, through which he directed customers to overseas gambling channels. At the peak of his business, he managed the bets of approximately 1,200 clients simultaneously. Last August, Bower admitted to multiple charges, including money laundering and operating an illegal gambling platform.
When facing the media, Bower insisted that he did not believe Ohtani had ever participated in any gambling activities, and he was confident that Ohtani had not used his own enterprise for sports betting. Regarding Suirano, Bower expressed sympathy with a hug and lamented Suirano's troubles due to his gambling addiction.
Why is Bower's sentence lighter than Suirano's?
After the guilty plea hearing, Bower's lawyer, Diane Bass, stated that if the case went to trial, Bower could face up to 18 years in prison, but pleading guilty meant he faced a potential sentence of 30 to 37 months. However, due to Bower's active cooperation with the federal investigation, including providing crucial leads on Suirano and other involved gamblers, prosecutors recommended a 15-month sentence, partly because "Bower provided substantial assistance to the investigation."
Judge Holcombe, during sentencing, set the sentence at 12 months and one day, reducing it by eight levels from the federal sentencing guidelines, which was seen as a manifestation of the government's "extraordinary" motion. Bower made a brief statement of remorse in court, promising to become a role model for responsible gambling after his release, reminding young people to stay away from gambling traps.
The impact of the case on the U.S. gambling industry
This case attracted global attention and raised warnings about anti-money laundering compliance in the U.S. gambling industry. Brian Crolicki, a member of the Nevada Gaming Commission, stated that the case sounded an alarm, forcing casinos to reevaluate their internal culture and compliance measures. Joseph Martin, CEO of Kinectify, noted that compared to Australia and the UK, U.S. fines are relatively low, and casino licenses are almost unthreatened, but this case has prompted compliance thinking to truly enter the operational level.
Bower's future plans
Judge Holcombe required Bower to surrender to federal authorities by October 10 to serve a one-year sentence. Bower is prohibited from betting on online gambling platforms and must continue to receive treatment for gambling addiction. Outside the court, he told the media that he hopes to become a motivational speaker in the future, helping various addicts escape their predicaments: "I want to do something that everyone can win. I'm tired of standing on the side where someone loses; I want to win, and I hope others can win too."
This case not only highlighted the risks and complexities behind illegal gambling but also, due to Bower's cooperation and remorse, became a key factor in sentencing differences, while further advancing compliance and regulation in the U.S. gambling industry.
