The Iowa State University football program’s recent betting scandal, and subsequent criminal charges, is proving to be an another example of the dangers and challenges of regulated sports betting in the United States.
Earlier this week, ISU quarterback Hunter Dekkers and three others were charged with a number of gambling-related offenses including tampering with evidence to conceal their activities. Authorities say that Dekker placed dozens of bets totaling thousands of dollars on ISU games as a minor after his parents helped him set up accounts. Dekker and the others face a range of penalties, not the least of which would be the end of their football careers if found guilty.
In this atmosphere of growing confusion and scandal, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) has stepped in with a recent press release clarifying that there seems to be no evidence of game-fixing in the scandal.
With the integrity of a very large school in a very small state on the line, Commissioners did not mince words saying, ” In light of recent charges filed in the state regarding possible sports wagering violations by student athletes, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) would like to affirm that it does not currently have any information that would call into question the integrity of any sports wagering contest or event involving the University of Iowa or Iowa State University.”
The ISU affair is turning out to be one of the largest college betting scandals in memory and may lead to long-term reforms down the road.