Guilty Pleas Received in Iowa Sports Betting Case Prior to Rivalry Football Game
Saturday sees Iowa and Iowa State face off in the annual Cy-Hawk Trophy clash, but this time around, a betting scandal involving both teams' athletes is bound to cast a shadow over the much-anticipated matchup.
Hunter Dekkers, starting QB for Iowa State, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of underage gambling. Attorney Mark Weinhardt confirms that Dekkers was fined $645 following the agreement. Jake Remsburg, an Iowa State offensive lineman, and former Iowa State player Dodge Sauser were also part of the arrangement, as confirmed by Weinhardt. All three were initially charged with records tampering, but Weinhardt says these charges didn't apply to their situation.
"The original records tampering charge against Hunter, Jake, and Dodge didn't align with the case, legally or factually. They're not and never were guilty of that charge. The charge had nothing to do with gambling beyond the fact that Hunter, Jake, and Dodge placed bets before they turned 21. Nothing about those bets violated Iowa law," Weinhardt stated.
According to , the criminal complaint revealed Dekkers made 26 bets on Iowa State sporting events, totalling $2,799.
Two other athletes, former Iowa kicker Aaron Bloom and former Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christensen, also accepted guilty pleas for underage gambling.
. Betting Scandal Engulfs 16 Iowa Student-Athletes
- Investigation Reaches Fifteen Players from Hawkeyes, Cyclones
A total of 16 current and former Iowa and Iowa State student-athletes have been embroiled in the ongoing betting probe, as reported by .
The NCAA's gambling rules specify that wagering on one's own team could result in lifelong ineligibility.
ESPN indicates Dekkers, the expected starting QB again this season, aren't participating in team activities and may lose his eligibility permanently.
Remsburg, allegedly facing a six-game suspension, is also an Iowa State athlete.
The legal proceedings may recede into the background as football season gains momentum.
Iowa's Sports Betting Saga Continues
In 2022, Iowa State’s QB Hunter Dekkers’ Bookmaker Asks Him To Stop Betting: ReportFormer Iowa Kicker Aaron Bloom and Former Cyclone Baseball Player Gehrig Christensen Enter Underage Gambling Guilty PleasSixteen Current and Former Iowa and Iowa State Student-Athletes Charged in Betting ProbeBettingamp;Gambling - Iowa Sports Betting Infrastructure
Despite the conclusion of the legal proceedings, the story will likely stay in the spotlight as the football season picks up pace.
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission reported a decline in sports bets in the fiscal year that finished in June.
The IRGC states that overall sports bets tumbled 8%, representing the first fiscal year decrease since Iowa legalized sports gambling in 2019.
Despite the overall decrease in bets, the state's tax revenue still increased. The state's tax revenue rose by close to 35% as sports wagering operators brought in more money.
The American Gaming Association reveals that overall gaming revenue in Iowa surpassed $16 billion in the second quarter of this year. The AGA states this marks the tenth consecutive quarter of yearly growth.
Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission Reports Drop in Sports Bets in JuneGaming Revenue Surges in Iowa in 2022
Complete Coverage: Everything You Need To Know
More Iowa Sports Betting News
Cy-Hawk Trophy Matchup Looms with Betting Scandal Overhead
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