The NCAA punished a former Baylor University employee for using daily fantasy sports platforms.
Key takeaways
- Sam Hancock violated NCAA policy by placing 2,950 wagers totaling over $45,000 from July 2019 through Sept. 2024.
- The investigation began when Baylor reported to the NCAA that Hancock accessed PrizePicks
- If an NCAA school employs him again, Hancock must receive gambling counseling and attend a rules seminar.
While serving as the university's director of resource development, Sam Hancock violated NCAA policy by placing 2,950 “impermissible” wagers totaling $45,979 with three different “sports betting platforms.”
“Hancock and the enforcement staff agree that from July 2019 through September 2024, Hancock violated the principles of honesty and sportsmanship when he knowingly participated in sports betting activities,” the NCAA stated in the negotiated resolution.
An NCAA investigation found that bets on 113 contests involved Baylor athletics and players, leading to a two-year show-cause order. Hancock admitted to placing the wagers and violating NCAA policy after employment and receiving rules education.
The NCAA found no Level 1 or major violations occurred.
“Hancock’s betting activity did not impact the integrity of the competitions and he did not utilize inside information to place any wagers,” the NCAA said.
Show-cause stipulations
The investigation began after Baylor notified the NCAA in Aug. 2024 that Hancock had been using popular DFS operator PrizePicks.
The show-cause order began April 10 and runs through April 9, 2027. Any university that employs Hancock during that time must require him to participate in gambling counseling and attend the NCAA Regional Rules Seminars at his own expense.
Hancock would also have to serve a two-week suspension during the first year of employment within the show-cause period, and he can't attend any sporting event or communicate with staff members, team staff members, or student-athletes during the suspension.
NCAA issues
PrizePicks and other similar DFS platforms offer prop-like stat markets on college athletes, letting users choose Under/Over on points scored or rushing yards. In July 2024, a former University of Georgia staff member also violated NCAA policy by using a DFS platform in 2022.
In March 2024, NCAA president Charlie Baker asked state lawmakers and regulators to ban player prop betting because of student-athlete harassment.
The NCAA dealt with several gambling infractions over the last few years, including an Alabama baseball coach who provided personnel information to a known gambler, Iowa and Iowa State players illegally creating accounts and betting with online sportsbooks, and a basketball scandal the federal government is investigating.
