The University of Iowa and Iowa State University joined the University of Alabama in dealing with sports betting controversies on campus Monday.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is investigating possible sports betting infractions at the University of Iowa, according to a report Monday afternoon from Action Network. The university’s baseball team withheld several players from its weekend series against Ohio State, including Keaton Anthony, the Big Ten Conference’s leader in batting average during league play and an everyday starter prior to this weekend.
Iowa’s athletic department confirmed the investigation Monday evening and shared more specific details. Its statement said the university was notified on May 2 about “potential criminal conduct related to sports wagering that also suggested possible NCAA violations.”
The statement said the university received information a couple days after May 2 about 111 individuals, including 26 current student-athletes from baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field, and men’s wrestling. The list does not include any current or former coaches, and the university stated that “the vast majority of the individuals are student-staff, former student-athletes, or those with no connection to UI Athletics.”
The exact wagering activity that took place is unclear, but the student-athletes involved were notified Friday that they won’t be competing in upcoming events.
“The University of Iowa and the Department of Athletics are aware of the sports wagering investigation and are fully cooperating,” the university said. “We have alerted the NCAA of the potential violations and we have hired outside counsel to assist in the investigative process. The athletics department provides education on NCAA rules regarding the the prohibition of sports wagering as well as the potential consequences.”
Iowa State deals with betting issue
A few hours after the Iowa news broke, Iowa State University shared news that its athletic department was aware of allegations that some of its student-athletes may have broken NCAA rules by betting.
“Iowa State University and its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is aware of online sports wagering allegations involving approximately 15 of our active student-athletes from the sports of football, wrestling, and track & field in violation of NCAA rules,” the Iowa State athletic department said in a statement. “The university has notified the NCAA and will take the appropriate actions to resolve these issues.”
The NCAA prohibits athletes from wagering in any capacity, which means not only are players prohibited from betting on their own sports or teams, but they can’t wager on any sporting event.
“If you put something at risk (such as cash, entry fee, dinner or other tangible item) on any amateur and/or professional sporting event with a chance to win something in return, you violate NCAA sports wagering rules,” the NCAA website outlines.
Virginia Tech linebacker Alan Tisdale was suspended six games during the 2022 college football season for self-reporting bets he placed on NBA playoff games the summer before the season. Several professional leagues, including MLB, allow players to wager on sports other than the one they play.
Another college betting controversy
Last week, a sports betting controversy involving the University of Alabama’s baseball team drew national attention. Head coach Brad Bohannon was fired amid reports that he was in communication with a bettor who placed a large wager on an Alabama baseball game at an Ohio casino.
Specifics related to the extent of Bohannon’s involvement have yet to be uncovered, but Alabama gathered enough information to move away from the head coach.
The NCAA declined to provide specific details about any of the three investigations.
Notable Iowa Baseball players that were not present during the Ohio State series
Keaton Anthony
Jacob Henderson
Ben Tallman
Gehrig Christensen— Kyle Huesmann (@HuesmannKyle) May 8, 2023
“Due to confidentiality rules put in place by NCAA member schools, the NCAA does not comment on current, pending, or potential investigations,” an NCAA spokesperson said.
