In what is perhaps the most explosive sports betting scandal in recent college sports history, seven current or former Iowa and Iowa State athletes were charged with one count each of tampering with records related to an investigation. This is the latest development in an inquiry that was announced in May that, between the two schools, looked into 111 people, including 26 athletes and one athletic department employee. Online betting went live Jan. 1, 2021 in Iowa, but it is illegal for those under the age of 21 to bet on sports, and it’s illegal to knowingly permit someone under 21 to bet. NCAA rules also don’t let any athlete or athletic department employee to bet on any sport the NCAA sponsors at any level.
While Iowa’s racing and gaming commission reviews markets to look for irregular betting patterns, Iowa’s special enforcement bureau (essentially, its in-state FBI) investigates potential criminal activity, which is what’s alleged here in seven different complaints.
The complaints all have a pattern. Complaints allege that the athletes bet on either FanDuel or DrafKings’ platforms using their cell phones. Multiple used family members’ names to try and cover up their activity.
