This week, Major League Baseball (MLB) has launched an investigation into the alleged illegal gambling activities of former Los Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher, as first reported by ESPN. It is alleged that Fletcher placed bets with Matthew Bowyer, the illegal bookmaker at the heart of the ongoing Ippei Mizuhara betting scandal.
Lack of Evidence
According to initial reports from ESPN, the first major stumbling block in the investigation is going to be a lack of evidence. As such, MLB will need to seek government cooperation as it looks to build a case against Fletcher.
Fletcher has not played in the MLB since 2019 and is currently plying his trade for Minor League team, the Atlanta Braves. According to reports, it is believed that Fletcher did not place any bets on baseball. The issue is that he was placing bets while playing in California, which is an illegal activity.
The bookmaker he is alleged to have used has been linked with Ippei Mizuhara, the interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Mizuhara has been at the centre of a huge scandal, with allegations that he stole nearly $17m from Ohtani to pay off gambling debts he had acquired. Mizuhara has pleaded not guilty, but a change of plea hearing is set for June 4th.
A Tough Year
As sports betting markets continue to become regulated in the United States, American sports are presented with a series of challenges regarding regulating their players. The ongoing Mizuhara case has shone a light on major issues within the game, but it is not the only sports betting scandal to have rocked America in 2024.
Toronto Raptors star Jontay Porter was involved in an NBA betting scandal and was hit with a lifetime ban following an investigation.
Regulators have stepped in in an attempt to control these issues. Ohio, for example, announced a ban on all NCAA player prop bets due to concerns over match-fixing and betting irregularities among college players.
