A few of Fresno State’s men’s basketball team players have been suspended over potential betting offenses. It is believed that the athletes in question might have placed wagers on their own games.
Three Athletes Were Suspended over Betting Allegations
In most regulated markets, professional athletes are prohibited from wagering on their own sport, and sometimes wagering as a whole. It is believed that insider knowledge and the ability to manipulate the outcome of a game jeopardize the integrity of both the sport and the betting markets.
As a result, insider betting is treated as a serious offense. Unfortunately, this is exactly the violation Fresno State’s men’s basketball players Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins are believed to have committed. This game took place last Saturday and saw Fresno State lose to Air Force.
As of the time of this writing, the players have been temporarily suspended from competing while the school investigates the matter. The two therefore did not participate in Fresno State’s most recent game.
Weaver and Collins, however, might not be the only players who have violated the NCAA’s rules. As it turned out, Mykell Robinson, another college athlete, had last played in early January. To top it all off, the player in question is no longer listed on the team’s roster, allegedly due to a similar investigation.
Fresno State has refused to comment further. The school and the NCAA are currently investigating the matter to confirm whether the three players had truly breached the rules.
Not a Unique Case
Fresno State is notably the fourth college basketball program to be investigated for betting offenses this season.
In October 2024, a player from the Virginia Tech Hokies men’s basketball team was dismissed for similar reasons. Hysier Miller, who served as a guard for the team, was suspected of wagering on games, undermining the integrity of the sport. The matter was investigated by Virginia Tech and the NCAA.
Generally, the proliferation of sports betting has led to a spike in insider betting, especially among more impressionable younger players. Some have previously defended younger players, saying that it is hardly surprising that young athletes are interested in such products. However, wagering on one’s own sport is a serious offense as it could lead to fixed games and exploitation of betting markets.
The proliferation of sports betting has not only attracted college athletes but caused some problems for them too. Recent studies showed that the expansion of betting has led to a spike in cases of athlete abuse by disgruntled bettors. Many angry gamblers across America have been pinning the blame for their wagering losses on college athletes, resulting in harassment and even threats across social media.