The NCAA is currently conducting an investigation into potential violations of sports betting rules involving 13 former men's basketball players from six different schools. The institutions implicated in this case include Eastern Michigan, Temple, Arizona State, New Orleans, North Carolina A&T, and Mississippi Valley State. Importantly, these schools are not under investigation, and they face no risk of penalties related to this situation.
The investigation was prompted by the NCAA's integrity monitoring program, which flagged suspicious activities via text messages and direct messages across social media platforms. These unusual betting activities revolve around regular-season games. Among the reported violations are instances of student-athletes betting on their own teams or against them, sharing confidential information with third parties for betting purposes, manipulating game scoring or outcomes, and failing to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
In a related context, the NCAA Committee on Infractions has already resolved three similar cases involving men's basketball student-athletes from Fresno State and San Jose State. In those cases, it was concluded that three athletes—Mykell Robinson, Steven Vasquez, and Jalen Weaver—violated NCAA sports betting rules. They engaged in betting activities on one another’s games and provided information that allowed others to place bets. Two of the athletes even manipulated their individual performances to ensure favorable betting outcomes, leading to the permanent revocation of their eligibility.
The NCAA has decided not to disclose the identities of the 13 athletes currently under investigation until the inquiry is conclusively resolved. At this point, none of the implicated players are enrolled at their former NCAA institutions.
NCAA President Charlie Baker emphasized the organization’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of competition, stating, “The NCAA monitors over 22,000 contests every year and will continue to aggressively pursue competition integrity risks such as these.” He expressed his gratitude for the diligent work of the NCAA enforcement team, as well as the cooperation received from the universities involved in these matters.
Baker pointed out the growing prevalence of legalized sports betting as a catalyst for increased violations. He urged regulators and gaming companies to take more proactive measures to mitigate these integrity risks, suggesting the elimination of prop bets and advocating for the incorporation of sports leagues in policymaking discussions.
This investigation comes at a critical time as sports betting becomes more commonplace and integrated into the fabric of collegiate athletics. The outcomes of these inquiries and the overarching issue of sports betting violations will likely have significant implications for the future of NCAA regulations and athlete conduct.
