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Update: 26 UI student-athletes are being investigated for online gambling, incl in Baseball, Football, Men’s Basketball, Men’s track&field & Wrestling

From the Iowa Office of Strategic Communication:


Sports Wagering Investigation


May 8, 2023

The University of Iowa and the Department of Athletics are aware of the sports wagering investigation and are fully cooperating. 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.

Additional Information

  • The university has received information about 111 individuals.
    • This includes 26 current student-athletes from baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field, and men's wrestling, as well as one full-time employee of the UI Department of Athletics.
    • The vast majority of the individuals are student-staff, former student-athletes, or those with no connection to UI Athletics.
    • The list does not include any current or former coaches.
Timeline

May 2: University of Iowa leadership was notified of potential criminal conduct related to sports wagering that also suggested possible NCAA violations.

May 3: Law enforcement notified the university that additional information would be provided the following day.

May 4: The university received a list of individuals alleged to have participated in sports wagering.

May 5: The University of Iowa took the following action:

  • notified several student-athletes that they would not be participating in upcoming competitions;
  • alerted the NCAA to potential violations; and
  • engaged outside legal counsel to advise the university and potentially lead an investigation.
May 8: The following message was sent to Department of Athletics staff and student-athletes.

Athletics Staff –

Last week the university and athletics department were made aware of potential NCAA violation related to sports wagering. The following statements from the State of Iowa Board of Regents and University of Iowa will be shared publicly shortly. We will follow-up with additional information as available.

Board of Regent Statement

The Board of Regents is aware of concerns related to online gambling involving individuals associated with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. The Board of Regents and the universities will fully cooperate with any investigations related to these concerns. We are closely monitoring the situation and have confidence that University administrators at each institution will take all necessary steps to ensure ongoing compliance.

University of Iowa Statement

The University of Iowa and the Department of Athletics are aware of the sports wagering investigation and are fully cooperating. 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.


LINK:

Sports wagering investigation | Office of Strategic Communication

May 8, 2023 The University of Iowa and the Department of Athletics are aware of the sports wagering investigation and are fully cooperating. We have alerted the NCAA of the potential violations and we have hired outside counsel to assist in the investigative process. The athletics department...
osc.uiowa.edu osc.uiowa.edu
 
The article I read said there were 111 under investigation, but only 26 were athletes or had a connection to sports teams, like a staff member.

Since gambling is legal, does that mean the other 85 are being investigated for conspiracy? Working with athletes to fix games?
 
ICWestfan said:
@AuroraHawk - Does that timeline look weird to you? Especially May2 with "potential criminal conduct"?
Click to expand...

I don’t have any idea.

I posted elsewhere that I’m really curious as to what led to two of the three state university’s Athletic Department’s issuing press releases detailing investigations into a number of individuals, including student-athletes.

The Iowa Gaming Commission’s comments that (paraphrasing) “it was aware of the recent stories that had come to light and it was opening an investigation” strongly suggests (at least to me) that the IGC wasn’t the primary entity doing the investigation.

A good friend has worked in DC all his professional life. His initial reaction was that "the feds" usually come out with some sort of pronouncement of what they are investigating. The absence of any such proclamation suggested initially to him that federal authorities weren't involved. However, again, the IGC's comments yesterday don't suggest that they were the primary "mover."

The absence of information is frustrating but - at least to me - something sure smells like a broad fed investigation into something. Whether it targeted universities (employees/athletes) or whether they are collateral damage is something that I'd really love to know.

“Criminal conduct” is incredibly broad. For example, Iowa Code 725.19 outlaws wagering by individuals who are younger than 21. It is a simple misdemeanor offense … but nonetheless “criminal.” One of the 4 baseball players who didn’t dress for last weekends game is not 21 years old.

Engaging in pure guesswork here … maybe it’s as simple as some entity identifying wagering accounts that linked an @iowa.edu email address (or the Iowa State equivalent). If that’s the case (and I’m engaging in pure speculation), one would think that the investigating body would “catch” a number of underage bettors and might also “snag” (even unintentionally) student-athletes or administration in athletic department.

And, at risk of being snarky, if you are a student-athlete or employed in the athletic department and created an account using your @uiowa.edu email account, it is truly an example of Darwinism at work.
 
Hawk_4shur said:
The article I read said there were 111 under investigation, but only 26 were athletes or had a connection to sports teams, like a staff member.

Since gambling is legal, does that mean the other 85 are being investigated for conspiracy? Working with athletes to fix games?
Click to expand...

I think reaching such conclusions is awfully premature and, frankly, dangerous. As noted above, it could simply be that the investigative entity subpoenaed records from a wagering entity and obtained 111 accounts that were linked to an @uiowa.edu email address and those email addresses were turned over to university officials.

Lots of vagaries in the statement. Also keep in mind Iowa State’s press release was limited to the number of current student-athletes. They may have also received information pertaining to a much larger group than the 15 referenced.
 
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Hawk_4shur said:
The article I read said there were 111 under investigation, but only 26 were athletes or had a connection to sports teams, like a staff member.

Since gambling is legal, does that mean the other 85 are being investigated for conspiracy? Working with athletes to fix games?
Click to expand...

Relevant to your point.

 
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Hawk_4shur said:
The article I read said there were 111 under investigation, but only 26 were athletes or had a connection to sports teams, like a staff member.

Since gambling is legal, does that mean the other 85 are being investigated for conspiracy? Working with athletes to fix games?
Click to expand...

See post #5, which is coming from the University of Iowa, where they break down the 111 individuals

This is an interesting point that they make:
  • The vast majority of the individuals are student-staff, former student-athletes, or those with NO CONNECTION to UI Athletics.
 
Franisdaman said:
Thank god. There's a lot of speculation as to whether a certain former football player threw the Iowa State and Nebraska games.
Click to expand...
Trying to connect the dots from those games and that named player which is 100% alleged at this point is interesting IMO. Slipping around the goal line, fumbled punt, running into a teammate, etc just doesn't have a good look.
 
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AuroraHawk said:
I don’t have any idea.

I posted elsewhere that I’m really curious as to what led to two of the three state university’s Athletic Department’s issuing press releases detailing investigations into a number of individuals, including student-athletes.

The Iowa Gaming Commission’s comments that (paraphrasing) “it was aware of the recent stories that had come to light and it was opening an investigation” strongly suggests (at least to me) that the IGC wasn’t the primary entity doing the investigation.

A good friend has worked in DC all his professional life. His initial reaction was that "the feds" usually come out with some sort of pronouncement of what they are investigating. The absence of any such proclamation suggested initially to him that federal authorities weren't involved. However, again, the IGC's comments yesterday don't suggest that they were the primary "mover."

The absence of information is frustrating but - at least to me - something sure smells like a broad fed investigation into something. Whether it targeted universities (employees/athletes) or whether they are collateral damage is something that I'd really love to know.

“Criminal conduct” is incredibly broad. For example, Iowa Code 725.19 outlaws wagering by individuals who are younger than 21. It is a simple misdemeanor offense … but nonetheless “criminal.” One of the 4 baseball players who didn’t dress for last weekends game is not 21 years old.

Engaging in pure guesswork here … maybe it’s as simple as some entity identifying wagering accounts that linked an @iowa.edu email address (or the Iowa State equivalent). If that’s the case (and I’m engaging in pure speculation), one would think that the investigating body would “catch” a number of underage bettors and might also “snag” (even unintentionally) student-athletes or administration in athletic department.

And, at risk of being snarky, if you are a student-athlete or employed in the athletic department and created an account using your @uiowa.edu email account, it is truly an example of Darwinism at work.
Click to expand...
What sort of nuance is added when say someone 19 tells a 21 year old to bet something? Or an athlete telling a non-athlete to bet something for them?

Everybody bets on key sporting events, even if it is offline betting. Does degree of the bet matter? Is $5 the same as $5,000?
 
pistachio1999 said:
Everybody bets on key sporting events, even if it is offline betting. Does degree of the bet matter? Is $5 the same as $5,000?
Click to expand...

Black-letter by-law does not distinguish culpability based on size of bet. Blanket ban.

The Reinstatement Committee takes matters on case-by-case basis. I'd think that size of bet matters to that committee. That written, self-reporting about $400 worth of bets (and $41 in winnings that were ultimately donated to charity) on NBA playoff games cost a Va. Tech defensive football player half his senior season this past year. Original penalty was 9 games but it was reduced on appeal to 6.
 
33 states have legalized sports gambling since 2018. Alabama (where the baseball scandal occurred) is not one of those states.

NCAA rules prohibit all athletes, coaches and staff from betting on ANY SPORT (amateur, collegiate or pro) in which the NCAA conducts a championship. So, for example, a collegiate wrestler cannot bet on an NFL game.


This video is from tonight:

 
From today:



FvtkGtkXoAAf9cW





Fvt0CXUWwAMFfPV
 
The irony....

In Jan, 2023, the Elite Casino Resorts announced a $500,000 commitment to the Iowa SWARM collective in exchange for being the exclusive casino gaming partner.

Several other colleges have signed sponsorship deals with sportsbooks in recent years, worth millions, but those are unwinding.

* PointsBet’s deals with Maryland and Colorado were cut short.

* Michigan State and LSU are getting out of deals with Caesars.


Excerpt from an Athletic article regarding Michigan State:


FviCEoKWYAgUgmD






Mo Hyder, Regional Vice President & General Manager of Rhythm City Casino Resort; Lisa Bluder, Head Coach of the Iowa Hawkeye’s Women’s Basketball Program; Damon John, General Manager Riverside Casino & Golf Resort; and Fran McCaffery, Head Coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes Men’s Basketball Program

Swarm+Collective+Iowa.jpg




The full story:

theathletic.com

Alabama baseball spotlights college sports' ongoing gambling debate

Can college sports protect its personnel and keep control over the credibility of its product as legalized sports betting continues to grow?
theathletic.com theathletic.com
 
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75% of college students have placed some kind of bet within the last year.

A Virginia Tech football player was suspended 9 games for self-reporting legal betting on the NBA (it was an NCAA violation, of course). The suspension was reduced to 6 games on appeal.

Is that strict punishment still tenable?

"It creates an enormous disincentive for people to come forward before they’re caught."


Some more excerpts from the linked article above:

Fvi6w8RXsAEY7gx
 
IMO the only thing that shouldn’t be allowed is betting on their own team. To allow casinos to sponsor NIL deals but then turn around and say they can’t participate is dumb.
 
ssckelley said:
IMO the only thing that shouldn’t be allowed is betting on their own team. To allow casinos to sponsor NIL deals but then turn around and say they can’t participate is dumb.
Click to expand...


I agree; it's a complete mess but I don't know how you regulate that, though. Imagine all the bets that would be placed.

What sports other than MMA and boxing does the NCAA not sponsor championships? For MMA and boxing, a student athlete can place a bet.

I hope it comes out how they uncovered 41 total student athletes making bets (26 at Iowa, 15 at Iowa State). Did someone tip them off?
 
Thanks for heads up, haven't seen his post yet and yes, although it might be "news", I doubt its the positive news we as fans and Hawks might be looking for. Listening to Chad's pod from last week, he actually got his hands on the metrics and numbers and penalties for gambling and unless you bet under $25 bucks it sounds like the scale is missing the remainder of current season + at least some of next from what I recall.
 
BigOHawk said:
Newsworthy update from Leistikow:


View embedded media
Click to expand...

As you mentioned in your other post, how many bets and total dollars wagered will factor into the penalty.

IIRC, the immediate punishment is a one year ban, but that can be reduced by appeal.

The 4 Iowa baseball players have missed 6 games so far and the N'western series will make it 9 games missed.

9 games seems like a lot when you compare it to Ja Morant, who only got suspended 8 games for brandishing a gun at a strip club in Denver.
 
Franisdaman said:
As you mentioned in your other post, how many bets and total dollars wagered will factor into the penalty.

IIRC, the immediate punishment is a one year ban, but that can be reduced by appeal.

The 4 Iowa baseball players have missed 6 games so far and the N'western series will make it 9 games missed.

9 games seems like a lot when you compare it to Ja Morant, who only got suspended 8 games for brandishing a gun at a strip club in Denver.
Click to expand...
#Truth Franny, seems we are sideways on these offenses and punishments sometimes.
 
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BigOHawk said:
#Truth Franny, seems we are sideways on these offenses and punishments sometimes.
Click to expand...

The 4 Iowa baseball players sidelined for potential gambling have now missed 10 straight games.

That's a pretty hefty penalty. I assume, however, that we won't see them again this season.

Credit to the coaching staff and players for keeping their focus & moving forward.
 
Franisdaman said:
The NCAA will conduct a separate student-athlete-only survey in the coming months (as if they will answer honestly).

Click on the link in the tweet to read the whole story.


View embedded media
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's a sting waiting to happen.

Yeah we'll just "anonymously" submit a survey back to the NCAA that we bet on sports and expect them not to do anything, like they did with that VT football player that self-reported and got a 6 game suspension.............
 
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The UI gambling violations were reported on or after May 2 so what follows is good news. With the previous rules, in most cases, student-athletes who wagered on sports at any level would lose one full season of collegiate eligibility.

The announcement from today:

NCAA DI Council approves changes to reinstatement guidelines for sports wagering violations​


June 28, 2023
2:30 pm

The Division I Legislative Committee on Tuesday ratified a Division I Committee on Student Athlete Reinstatement decision to amend guidelines for reinstating the eligibility of student-athletes who commit violations relating to sports wagering. The Division I Council was briefed on those new guidelines during its meeting this week in Indianapolis.

For all wagering-related violations reported on or after May 2, the following guidelines will apply:

  • Student-athletes who engage in activities to influence the outcomes of their own games or knowingly provide information to individuals involved in sports betting activities will potentially face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports. This would also apply to student-athletes who wager on their own games or on other sports at their own schools.
  • If a student-athlete wagers on their own sport at another school, education on sports wagering rules and prevention will be required as a condition of reinstatement, and the loss of 50% of one season of eligibility will be considered.
  • For all other wagering-related violations (e.g., wagering on professional sports), cumulative dollar value of the wagers will be taken into consideration with the following terms for reinstatement:
    • $200 or less: sports wagering rules and prevention education.
    • $201-$500: loss of 10% of a season of eligibility, plus rules and prevention education.
    • $501-$800: loss of 20% of a season of eligibility, plus rules and prevention education.
    • Greater than $800: loss of 30% of a season of eligibility, plus rules and prevention education.
For cumulative wagering activities that greatly exceed $800, NCAA reinstatement staff are directed to consider whether additional loss of eligibility, including permanent ineligibility, are appropriate.

"These new guidelines modernize penalties for college athletes at a time when sports wagering has been legalized in dozens of states and is easily accessible nationwide with online betting platforms," said Alex Ricker-Gilbert, athletics director at Jacksonville and chair of the DI Legislative Committee. "While sports wagering by college athletes is still a concern — particularly as we remain committed to preserving the integrity of competition in college sports — consideration of mitigating factors is appropriate as staff prescribe penalties for young people who have made mistakes in this space."

Previous reinstatement guidelines, which were implemented prior to the broader legalization of sports wagering, stipulated that in most cases, student-athletes who wagered on sports at any level would lose one full season of collegiate eligibility.

The council directed the national office to continue to explore issues around rules education and integrity monitoring and requested additional updates on these topics.

www.ncaa.org

DI approves changes to reinstatement guidelines for sports wagering violations - NCAA.org

The Division I Legislative Committee on Tuesday ratified a Division I Committee on Student Athlete Reinstatement decision to amend guidelines for reinstating the
www.ncaa.org www.ncaa.org
 
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