Footballers from the Texas Longhorns Team Caught in Financial Scandal after Spending Approximately $15,000 on a Virtual Gambling Platform
The Longhorns are in a pickle! The University of Texas Athletics Department's self-reporting revealed five individuals, including football players, had slipped up, violating NCAA rules about daily fantasy sports (DFS). The Austin American-Statesman fired the first salvo, reporting these unnamed individuals snagged a whopping $14,885 on PrizePicks, a widely-used app.
NCAA athletes, coaches, and staff are forbidden from dabbling in these kinds of platforms due to concerns about game integrity. The NCAA's bylaws (10.3) bar these individuals from engaging in betting activities, which includes DFS contests involving college sports.
Two football players were caught in the act. In response, one player gifted his winnings to charity, while the other, who splurged $9,600, quit the team and got help for a gambling addiction. Social media tarred and feathered the unfortunate athlete, with speculative fingers pointed at him after noticing offseason departures.
Three other individuals, who weren’t athletes, included a student assistant who wagered on games that involved his own team. He's now jobless and has joined the growing ranks of ex-employees.
Recent years have seen a wave of similar violations at other institutions. The NCAA reported around 100 self-reported violations last year alone. The University of Texas learned about these breaches thanks to ProhiBet, a service that matches online gambling site registrations with the personal data of people involved in sports programs.
It's not just PrizePicks under the spotlight—platforms like Underdog Fantasy are feeling the heat too, with mounting pressure to toe the line with NCAA and state regulations, particularly concerning collegiate sports events.
- The gambling addiction of a University of Texas football player has come to light, after it was revealed he snagged a significant amount on PrizePicks, an app used widely in daily fantasy sports (DFS).
- A student assistant at the University of Texas, who wagered on games involving his own team, is now jobless following the revelation of the athletes' violation of NCAA rules about DFS.
- The case of the football player who splurged $9,600 and quit the team is gaining attention, as he grapples with a gambling addiction and faces criticism on social media.
- The culprits in the University of Texas DFS scam, including football players, have collectively earned over $14,885, a sum that has caused a stir in the American football scene.
- The NCAA's Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement is under pressure to ensure platforms like PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, and others adhere to NCAA and state regulations, especially with regard to collegiate sports events.
- The recent DFS violations at the University of Texas are part of a growing trend, with around 100 self-reported violations at other institutions making headlines in crime-and-justice and sports-analysis sectors last year.
