Football Players from the Texas Longhorns Team Facing Scrutiny for Alleged Spending of Nearly $15,000 on a Fantasy Sports Application
Hot Water for Longhorns: NCAA Rule Violationin Daily Fantasy Sports
The Texas Longhorns football team finds itself in a sticky situation, with the University of Texas' Athletics Department reporting five individuals for breaking NCAA rules related to daily fantasy sports (DFS). This revelation was initially made public by the Austin American-Statesman.
These unidentified individuals splurged nearly $15,000 on the PrizePicks app, an act strictly prohibited by the NCAA for athletes, coaches, and staff members. Despite the legality of the app in Texas, it's off-limits for these individuals due to concerns surrounding the integrity of the games.
Two of the offenders turned out to be football players. One was asked to donate his winnings to charity, while the other, who wagered $9,600, decided to quit the team and is receiving help to overcome a gambling addiction. Curiosity among fans ran wild on social media, trying to guess who the departed player might be.
The other three individuals, who were not athletes, included a student assistant who placed bets on games involving his own team. Consequently, he was terminated from his position.
This isn't an isolated incident. NCAA has been dealing with similar infractions from various colleges. Last year, approximately 100 self-reported violations were reported to the NCAA. University of Texas became aware of these breaches thanks to the ProhiBet service, which cross-references online gambling site registrations with the personal data of individuals associated with sports programs.
Stricter Rules and Enforcement
The NCAA upholds strict policies against student-athletes, coaches, and staff members participating in DFS or any form of sports betting involving their own sports or any NCAA competition. These rules are put in place to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure the integrity of college sports.
Universities, like Texas, are taking a stand against these violations by self-reporting infractions and working closely with NCAA investigations. Individuals found guilty face penalties, including counseling and suspensions.
Currently, there's a growing emphasis on prohibiting student-athletes from participating in DFS and prop betting due to fears of potential harassment and undue influence on athletes. The NCAA is advocating for stricter regulations at the state level to safeguard athletes and maintain the authenticity of college sports.
- The gambling addiction of a Texas Longhorns football player, who wagered $9,600 through the PrizePicks app, led him to leave the team, necessitating assistance for his recovery.
- The NCAA has been strict about student-athletes, coaches, and staff members engaging in daily fantasy sports (DFS) or any form of sports betting involving their own sports or any NCAA competition, to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain the integrity of college sports.
- University of Texas, after becoming aware of the breaches, is taking an active stance against such violations by self-reporting infractions and working closely with the NCAA's investigations.
- The PrizePicks app, popular for DFS, was used by five individuals, including two football players, one of whom was asked to donate his winnings to charity, according to the general-news of the Austin American-Statesman.
- It was the ProhiBet service that cross-referenced online gambling site registrations with the personal data of individuals associated with sports programs, enabling the University of Texas to discover the rule violations.
- Coinciding with the Longhorns' case, the NCAA has been dealing with numerous similar infractions from various colleges across the nation, with approximately 100 self-reported violations reported last year in crime-and-justice news.
