Iowa Charges Seven With Record Tampering in Collegiate Sports Betting Scandal

After months of investigations, Iowa has officially charged six student-athletes and one staffer with record tampering. The state has investigated over 40 violations between athletes and staffers at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. They had charged seven student-athletes previously, bringing the total to 14. While we know the charges have been filed, the state has been reluctant to release many details. 

“The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Special Enforcement Operations Bureau serves as the primary criminal investigative and enforcement agency for gambling laws in Iowa and investigated alleged violations of Iowa law related to sports wagering at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.” The DCI shared in a statement to the press. “The investigation is ongoing, and no further information can be released at this time.”

While many charged are accused of using inside information to bet on the school’s other sports, a few are alleged to have bet on games they participated in. That was highlighted by ISU defensive tackle Isaiah Lee, who is charged with betting on 12 games he played in this past season.

Record tampering is an aggravated misdemeanor in Iowa with a maximum sentence of up to 2 years in prison and fines up to $8,540.

Charges Are Nightmare Scenario for NCAA

While sports betting scandals are somewhat expected at the pro level, there is a growing concern over the industry's effect on college athletes. That is especially true in situations like with Isaiah Lee, who bet on almost every game he played in. While a defensive tackle can only do so much to affect the score, a quarterback or kicker could easily alter the final score to win a bet. This has caused concern for colleges and the sports betting industry that must be addressed quickly.

Congress has been seeking answers from the NCAA and US pro leagues on how they will handle these problems going forward. While punishments are the focus of the current scandals, colleges are also working to create a better education for players to avoid these issues in the future.