NCAA Alleges Widespread Betting Violations, Game Manipulation by 13 Former Basketball Players
The NCAA has announced it is pursuing allegations of serious sports betting violations against 13 former men’s basketball players from six different universities. The investigation has uncovered a range of misconduct, including players betting on and against their own teams, sharing inside information with third parties, and, in some cases, actively manipulating game outcomes to win wagers.
A Pattern of Misconduct
The new allegations follow the recent resolution of three similar cases involving players from Fresno State and San Jose State, which also resulted in permanent bans for game manipulation. The current, ongoing investigation involves former student-athletes from Eastern Michigan, Temple, Arizona State, New Orleans, North Carolina A&T, and Mississippi Valley State.
According to the NCAA, the schools themselves and their respective coaching staffs are not alleged to have been involved in the violations. As a result, the enforcement staff is not seeking penalties against the universities.
The NCAA became aware of the potential violations through its extensive integrity monitoring program and a network of sources that flagged unusual betting activity. The subsequent investigation substantiated these reports with evidence that included text messages and social media direct messages.
A Call for Industry Reform
In a statement addressing the investigation, NCAA President Charlie Baker used the opportunity to issue a broader call to action to the legal gambling industry and state regulators. He specifically targeted the growing market for player prop bets, which are often at the center of these types of integrity scandals.
“The rise of sports betting is creating more opportunity for athletes across sports to engage in this unacceptable behavior,” Baker said. “And while legalized sports betting is here to stay, regulators and gaming companies can do more to reduce these integrity risks by eliminating prop bets and giving sports leagues a seat at the table when setting policies.”
Under current NCAA rules, the penalties for the alleged misconduct are severe. Any student-athlete found to have wagered on their own team is subject to a permanent loss of all remaining collegiate eligibility. While the NCAA has recently reformed its reinstatement guidelines for less severe betting violations, it has maintained a zero-tolerance policy for any wagering that could impact the integrity of a competition.
The NCAA has not yet publicly named the 13 individuals involved, as the infractions process is still ongoing. However, the organization has confirmed that none of the players are still enrolled at their previous schools.
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