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The Los Angeles Dodgers recently fired Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, due to allegations of illegal gambling and theft. 

Mizuhara, who had been Ohtani's close companion since his arrival in the U.S., was dismissed by the team after reports surfaced about his ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts exceeding $1 million.

This news story has once again brought attention to the issue of compulsive gambling, according to the Associated Press. 

Gambling addiction is a recognized mental health condition characterized by behavior that is harmful to oneself or their family, often disrupting daily life and career.

Symptoms include persistent thoughts about gambling, increasing the frequency and amount of bets, chasing losses, feeling out of control and continuing to gamble despite negative consequences.

Gambling addiction in the US

According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, approximately 2.5 million adults in the United States are classified as having severe gambling problems, with an additional 5 to 8 million people considered to have mild or moderate issues with gambling.

Resources such as the 800-GAMBLER hotline and Gamblers Anonymous provide support and assistance for those struggling with gambling addiction.

Rise of sports betting

Despite the risks associated with gambling addiction, sports betting has seen a surge in popularity, particularly with the legalization of betting in 38 states plus Washington, D.C., following a landmark 2018 US Supreme Court ruling.

The American Gaming Association estimated that Americans would wager $2.72 billion legally on the NCAA college basketball tournament in a single year.

Professional sports leagues, while prohibiting players from engaging in gambling activities, have increasingly embraced partnerships with gambling outlets.

Despite the legalization trend, sports betting remains illegal in California, while in Japan, most forms of gambling are prohibited except for certain sanctioned events like horse racing and motorsports.