Iowa Sports Betting Investigation Leads to More Player Charges

Summary:

• Four more football players and three program members were charged.
• Players are accused of tampering with records.
• The charges will affect the Iowa State football team’s player roster.

In states where sports betting is legal, college athletes are not allowed to wager on games. It is a major violation to wager in general in most states as a player, especially on their team games.

The Iowa State football team is now dealing with a serious blow to the roster after several players and some program members were charged with violating sports betting rules.

Players and Program Members Charged

On Thursday, criminal complaints were filed in Story and Johnson County district courts against the individuals. The players are accused of tampering with records, which is an aggravated misdemeanor. The Cyclones football players reportedly concealed their identities to place an electronic wager.

Those charged include Jirehl Brock, the starting running back for the team. Also charged were Jake Remsburg, Isaiah Lee and DeShawn Hanika. Jack Johnson, a wide receiver for the team was charged along with former players Reggie Bracy and Arland Bruce IV. The student manager Owen O’Brien also faces charges.

The ISU athletes that are charged with betting have not practiced with the team. The charge has a maximum prison sentence of up to two years in prison, and fines start at around $855. The fines can go up to $8,500.

Unfortunate Repercussions

This is not the first incident of Iowa State players facing charges for sports betting. Another group of players was charged earlier in August due to the sports betting investigation. The previous group included Hunter Dekkers, the projected starting quarterback.

Iowa State University began its investigation in May after becoming aware that some student-athletes may be posting bets. The University has been working hard to address the issues, and the process is ongoing.

Court documents state that Brock wagers more than 1,300 times online and places over $12,000 in bets with a DraftKings account. Bets included three games in which he participated in. It is alleged that Brock and Bracy worked together to place bets while underage using an account under an account held by Vincent Bruce.

Bruce is of age and is said to have placed bets also, with around 11 wagers on games he played in back in 2021. He also wagered on personal games in 2022.

It’s unfortunate for the players as they could lose their ability to play college football. Many players rely on football scholarships for school and move on from college play to the NFL. For the players involved in this investigation, they face jail time and fines, plus possibly losing the chance to play for Iowa State and other colleges across the US.