Las Vegas – John Copenhaver, a junior tight end at North Carolina, receives regular group text messages from his university regarding the latest betting scandals and the importance of adhering to rules against sports betting. This constant reminder reflects the serious attention that athletic departments and conference offices are giving to the spread of legalized sports gambling and the early scandals that have occurred. Major conferences have hired independent betting monitors to ensure that their athletes follow the rules and to catch those who do not.
As a result, the personal information provided by athletes, such as birthdays, addresses, Social Security numbers, and cellphone numbers, is used in a different manner than that of other students. These details can potentially raise red flags for betting monitors if something appears suspicious. According to Creighton sports law professor David Weber, athletes who provide personal information cannot claim ignorance about what they are signing, as they have a higher obligation.
Universities have become increasingly vigilant about monitoring the betting market, especially after recent scandals involving Alabama, Iowa, and Iowa State. Several current and former athletes and staff members from these schools are facing charges, and the Iowa State football team may even begin their season with a shortage of starters. This heightened awareness of the consequences of gambling has led universities like UNLV, located in the nation’s betting capital, to prioritize educating athletes about the risks. For example, at UNLV, junior quarterback Doug Brumfield said they discuss gambling early on and the school does a good job of keeping athletes away from potentially problematic situations.
The legalization of sports betting by the Supreme Court in May 2018 has prompted the creation of companies like U.S. Integrity, which provides integrity and compliance services for sports organizations. U.S. Integrity has already partnered with over 150 clients, including major conferences like the Southeastern Conference, Big 12, and Pac-12. The company receives athlete and team staff information through an encrypted program called ProbiBet, which allows them to compare this data with information provided by sportsbooks to detect any potential matches that may raise suspicions.
While the NCAA takes steps to ensure the integrity of the 13,000 events it monitors, the organization is still faced with challenges. Only a small fraction of these events are deemed suspicious enough to investigate, but the recent scandals have raised concerns. A survey found that over half of college students between the ages of 18 and 22 have placed sports wagers, prompting the NCAA to plan an athlete-only assessment to address the issue.
While monitoring legal betting activities has become more manageable due to advancements in technology, tracking illegal bookies is much more difficult. The American Gaming Association estimates that around $4 billion is wagered illegally each year. Conferences with substantial resources, like the SEC and Big Ten, can afford to hire integrity companies, but it is more challenging for lower-profile leagues. The Mid-American Conference, for example, has licensed its data and statistics to Genius Sports, providing these details to sportsbooks.
The financial potential of the legalized sports wagering market is substantial, with projections indicating that it could reach up to $13 billion by 2022. However, conferences like the SEC and Big Ten must carefully consider the implications of entering into business relationships with betting companies as it could call the integrity of their events into question.
In conclusion, as the popularity and influence of sports betting grow, the monitoring of athletes, coaches, and staff members has become crucial in preserving the integrity of college sports. The implementation of integrity programs and partnerships with integrity companies will likely continue to expand as universities and conferences aim to protect their brands and assets. Despite the challenges and occasional scandals, addressing the issue of sports gambling cannot be ignored if the integrity of college sports is to be maintained.
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