The University of Iowa and Iowa State University separately announced this week that more than 40 current student-athletes across the two schools were being investigated for possible sports betting infractions. Iowa shared that it was notified of possible criminal activity on May 2, but just over a week later, none of the athletes at either university face criminal charges.
“The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Special Enforcement Operations Bureau serves as the primary criminal investigative and enforcement agency for gambling laws in the state of Iowa,” the DCI said in a statement. “The DCI is involved in an ongoing investigation concerning sports wagering involving individuals at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. At this time, no criminal charges have been filed and no further information will be released.”
Wagering under the age of 21 and match-fixing are against state law, and likely two of the first subjects on the DCI’s list to investigate. If underage individuals were allowed to place wagers, it’s possible that legal consequences and financial penalties could be issued to the individual bettors breaking the law and the licensed sportsbook operator that accepted those wagers.
The DCI is also working with the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC), the state’s sports betting regulator, to determine possible regulatory infractions.
Alabama integrity issue different from Iowa
Another college sports controversy unfolding at the University of Alabama seemingly includes more nefarious activity.
In the Alabama incident, the university fired its head baseball coach Brad Bohannon after an investigation into suspicious wagering activity involving an Alabama baseball game. A bettor in Ohio placed a large wager on Alabama to lose its April 28 game with LSU, and the bettor was reportedly in contact with Bohannon at the time of placing the bet.
Further details could bring into question the competitive integrity of the game, which LSU won 8-6. At the very least, it appears Bohannon was in contact with someone on the same day they placed a large wager on a game Bohannon coached.
The situation involving athletes at Iowa and Iowa State doesn’t bring with it competitive integrity concerns, according to the IRGC.
“The IRGC does not currently have any information that would call into question the integrity of any sports wagering contest or event involving the University of Iowa or Iowa State University,” the IRGC said in a statement.
NCAA policy prohibits most wagering
While there’s no indication of criminal charges, the specifics of the situations at both Iowa and Iowa State remain murky.
“The University of Iowa and the department of athletics are aware of the sports wagering investigation and are fully cooperating,” the University of Iowa said in a statement this week. “We have alerted the NCAA of the potential violations and we have hired outside counsel to assist in the investigative process.”
A spokesperson for the University of Iowa athletic department said Wednesday that the university is “not commenting further at this time.” Iowa State University didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, but acknowledged the investigations earlier in the week.
Caught up with Iowa AD Gary Barta. Regarding the gambling investigation: "There's really nothing more I can say beyond what we put on our website."
As for the baseball and track/field athletes involved, will they return to competition this spring?
"The answer is I'm not sure."— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) May 10, 2023
NCAA rules forbid any wagering on college or professional sports, while some professional sports leagues allow players to bet on sports other than the one they play.
“Our rules prohibit student-athletes and athletics administrators from wagering on all NCAA sponsored sports at any level — collegiate and professional — or from providing information to others who are associated with sports wagering,” an NCAA spokesperson told Sports Handle.
Virginia Tech linebacker Alan Tisdale served a six-game suspension last year after self-reporting wagers on NBA playoff games. Tisdale’s infractions weren’t crimes, but they drew the attention of the NCAA and Virginia Tech.
Similarly, wagers placed by Iowa and Iowa State athletes don’t have to rise to the level of criminal activity to lead to possible sanctions from the NCAA. The NCAA’s rules against wagering are well-known across NCAA member institutions, and they shouldn’t come as a surprise to student-athletes.
“The athletics department provides education on NCAA rules regarding the prohibition of sports wagering as well as the potential consequences,” the University of Iowa said in a statement earlier this week.
Even without criminal charges filed, Iowa and Iowa State student-athletes could face NCAA discipline in the coming months. Penalties assessed by the NCAA are given out on a case-by-case basis.
While it’s easiest for student-athletes to avoid wagering altogether, they are allowed to bet on select events, per NCAA rules.
Student-athletes can theoretically wager on the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest this July, as the NCAA doesn’t sponsor competitive eating as a sport. Cornhole, cricket, darts, and competitive motorsports (Formula 1, NASCAR, etc.) are other examples of betting markets currently offered by mobile sportsbooks involving sports not sponsored by the NCAA. Student-athletes of legal age are also allowed to play the lottery, poker, and casino games, according to an NCAA spokesperson.
