Sports gambling is illegal in California, one of only 12 states that still considers the activity a crime.

Major League Baseball also strictly prohibits gambling by MLB players and other employees under Rule 21, which is posted in every clubhouse in English and Spanish and acknowledged in writing every year by every player. Betting on any sports can result in a suspension of one year and betting on baseball is punishable by a lifetime ban.

And, of course, the "massive theft" alleged by Ohtani's representatives could result in criminal charges against Mizuhara.

How did Ohtani fail to notice the transfer of a reported $4.5 million from his bank account to an illegal bookmaking operation?

This issue undoubtedly would have been raised had Ohtani fielded questions. It is unclear who — if anyone — handles his finances. Ohtani's version of events implies that Mizuhara had access to at least one of the player's bank accounts and was able to wire huge sums of money to a bookmaker without detection.

Would a bookmaker extend millions of dollars of credit to someone?

According to a longtime Los Angeles-area bookmaker who requested anonymity to protect himself from prosecution, doing so would be reckless and potentially cripple the business if the debt went unpaid. Only if the bettor provided collateral or proof that an enormous debt could be paid off would a bookmaker extend credit in the millions.

Has anyone been charged with a crime?

Neither Ohtani nor Mizuhara has been charged with a crime. Bowyer also hasn't been charged, said his attorney, Irvine-based Diane Bass. Federal agents raided Bowyer's San Juan Capistrano home last year as part of the investigation.

Bass told The Times that Bowyer and Ohtani have never been in contact. "Mathew Bowyer never met, spoke with, or texted or had contact in any way with Shohei Ohtani," she said.

How does Ohtani feel about allegedly being betrayed?

Ohtani and Mizuhara were seen on television joking and smiling in the dugout during the season opener in Seoul on March 20, a day after Mizuhara gave a 90-minute telephone interview to ESPN saying Ohtani had paid his gambling debts.

Early in his statement Monday, however, Ohtani, 29, made it clear he felt deceived by the man he first met as a teenager in Japan in 2013.

"Just on a personal note, I'm very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this," he said before beginning to read from the statement.

Later, he added: "I'm just beyond shocked. It's really hard to verbalize how I am feeling at this point."

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