College athletics and legal sports betting have become a sore topic as more schools are in the crosshairs of another gambling investigation involving online sports betting sites.
Less than a week after Alabama baseball fired its head coach for reportedly being involved with an integrity issue at a sportsbook in Ohio, the Iowa Board of Regents confirmed Monday that a combined 41 student athletes at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University are under scrutiny by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.
“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 Regents said in a statement. “The Board of Regents and the universities will fully cooperate with any investigations related to these concerns.”
The IRGC told the Des Moines Register that there is an ongoing investigation, and while it wouldn’t comment any further, it said it takes “integrity of gaming in the state seriously.”
Hawk eyes on Hawkeyes
The investigation includes 111 individuals at Iowa, including 26 student athletes across baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field, and men's wrestling.
The rest of the individuals involved are not part of any teams, and no current or former coaches are being investigated.
“The University of Iowa and the Department of Athletics are aware of the sports wagering investigation and are fully cooperating,” the university said in a statement. “We have alerted the NCAA of the potential violations and we have hired outside counsel to assist in the investigative process.”
The university was notified on May 2 of “potential criminal conduct related to sports wagering that also suggested possible NCAA violations.” Law enforcement gave the university a list of individuals under investigation on May 4, and those currently on teams were pulled from competition the following day.
It’s believed that list could include four baseball players, including star player Keaton Anthony, who was not available for last weekend’s series against Ohio State. No reason has been given for their absence.
Storm heading to ISU
Iowa State confirmed in a statement that is also aware of an “online sports wagering investigation” that it says involves “approximately 15” active student-athletes in football, wrestling, and track & field.
Statement from Iowa State on gambling allegations with student-athletes. pic.twitter.com/f8rSXCiLtD
— Chris Williams (@ChrisMWilliams) May 8, 2023
Collegiate sports’ governing body prohibits student-athletes from “participation in sports wagering activities and from providing information to individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports wagering activities concerning intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition.”
