The University of Iowa has announced that 11 of its current student-athletes are set to face NCAA eligibility impacts in the aftermath of a comprehensive sports wagering inquiry that spanned over three months. The Iowa athletics department unveiled the reinstatement “determinations” by the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement (SAR) staff in a press release on August 22.

Athletes Not Linked to Probe Await NCAA Verdict

While the identities of the affected athletes are yet to be disclosed, the university has clarified that the release of specifics will be contingent upon receiving consent from the individuals involved, as required by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The institution is striving to adhere to legal and ethical considerations while sharing information.

The NCAA had introduced revised guidelines earlier in the summer, outlining a spectrum of penalties ranging from mandatory sports wagering education to the potential forfeiture of collegiate eligibility for good. The consequences appear especially dire for current Iowa football players Aaron Blom, a kicker, and Jak Johnson, a wide receiver, both of whom face allegations of tampering with records and accusations of placing bets on their own team.

The gravity of the repercussions remains unclear for athletes not implicated in the ongoing criminal probe. Iowa’s interim athletics director, Beth Goetz, stated last week that while the prescribed penalties are widely known, the NCAA’s approach typically includes factoring in mitigating circumstances that could have contributed to the violations.

Iowa Universities Grapple with Gambling Scandal Fallout

The University of Iowa’s response to the NCAA’s decisions underscores its commitment to the well-being and rights of its student-athletes. The institution is firmly in favor of those individuals opting to appeal the SAR staff’s decisions. The university pledged to provide unwavering support to student-athletes pursuing the appeal process.

The ripple effects of the investigation have extended beyond the confines of Iowa City. Iowa State University is facing a similar gambling inquiry, with approximately 15 student-athletes reportedly under scrutiny. However, as of the most recent update, the school has not made any announcements concerning eligibility determinations.

Last week Iowa State University’s football program faced turmoil as starting defensive lineman Isaiah Lee departed amid an ongoing gambling investigation. Lee, accused of betting on Iowa State sports, including games involving his own team, potentially jeopardizes his athletic eligibility under NCAA regulations. The scandal has impacted other players, including quarterback Hunter Dekkers, prompting the university to collaborate with the NCAA to address eligibility concerns.

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The gambling industry’s backing of the University of Sydney’s new Centre of Excellence in Gambling Research doesn’t sit well with industry critics, who believe that the tie-up is a recipe for a conflict of interests.

The university recently unveiled its new multi-disciplinary center, which is tasked with advancing research on gambling behavior and minimizing harm. However, it became known that the University of Sydney will receive over AUD 800,000 (around $511,700) from gambling-related parties.

While some believe that the investment demonstrates the industry’s commitment to minimizing its negative impact and supporting safer gambling initiatives, others fear that it might cause a potential conflict of interest.

The Centre of Excellence in Gambling Research will be primarily supported by the International Centre for Responsible Gaming (ICRG), which will contribute AUD 600,000 to the cause. However, the ICRG is itself financially supported by gambling companies.

In addition, the University of Sydney’s new center is set to receive backing from Entain Australia, Sportsbet and the Australian Research Council’s Life Course Centre, which will provide it with AUD 180,000, 50,000 and 100,000, respectively.

The Research Needs to Stay Away from the Industry, Critics Say

Since the Centre of Excellence in Gambling Research will receive backing from the gambling industry, some fear that its work will not be fully independent. While the University of Sydney reassured interested parties that this is not the case, experts still fear that an industry-funded organization might be biased.

A Deakin University gambling expert, Samantha Thomas, expressed her thoughts on the matter. She noted that the gambling industry contributes to the problem at hand and therefore should not have a role in the research of gambling harm or development of regulatory policies.

Thomas argued that if the research seeks to understand gambling harm, then it needs to be “completely at arm’s length from the industry.”

However, the University of Sydney trusts that the ethics committee of its new center will be able to mitigate potential conflicts of interest. A spokesperson noted that the funding bodies will not have a say in the center’s decisions and research. In addition, the partnership with operators will provide the center with valuable data, the spokesperson added.

The Centre of Excellence in Gambling Research’s lead researcher, Sally Gainsbury is much more optimistic about the center than Thomas, calling it an “unprecedented collaboration” that will overcome previous limitations.

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Since the US Supreme Court ruled against PASPA back in 2018, sports betting has been spreading to more US states. With PASPA out of the way, the legalization and regulation of the activity were put in the hands of lawmakers in each state, which resulted in a statewide expansion of the activity.

By now, sports betting is available in some form in more than thirty states, while some have legalized it but are yet to launch. Besides a fresh stream of tax revenue, legal sports betting helps reduce the share of the black market which brings benefits for the consumers. At the same time, legalizing the activity helped create sponsorship opportunities with colleges.

Late last month, the University of Maryland’s Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and Howard Center for Investigative Journalism uncovered the results of a four-month investigation that probed sports betting on college campuses. Overall, 145 Division I public universities in states where sports betting is legal were surveyed as a part of the recent research. Surprisingly, only 23% of the universities confirmed they had sports betting policies in place.

Merrill College’s George Solomon chair in sports journalism and director of the Povich Center, Mark Hyman, explained that the study shares an invaluable insight into how universities respond to sports betting. “It also examines the complicated relationships between betting companies and some schools,” he explained. Finally, Hyman thanked the student journalists that participated in the study and helped deliver these unique insights.

Deals between Bookies and Colleges Are Not Transparent

The new investigative study uncovered a worrying trend. According to the research, universities joined forces with private companies which in turn engaged with sportsbooks. This effectively helped “shield” the agreements, which in reality are between the universities and the sports betting companies, from the public. Undoubtedly this is a worrying trend, considering that some sponsorship agreements include in-stadium branding, as well as other options for promotions.

“Anytime that you can’t be transparent about something you’re doing, it probably indicates that there are some issues. These colleges should be very concerned about the impact of gambling addiction among especially underage students.“

Keith Whyte, executive director at the National Council on Problem Gambling

The National Council on Problem Gambling’s executive director, Keith Whyte, commented on the topic in an interview for the Associated Press. He outlined that concerns are raised immediately given that an activity or a process isn’t transparent. Whyte also pointed out that colleges that have sponsorship deals with betting companies should be concerned about gambling addiction among students that are below the legal age for betting.

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