Gambling agency found no evidence games were manipulated by Iowa, Iowa State athletes involved in investigation

While several current and former college athletes in the state of Iowa have been linked to a gambling scandal, the Iowa Racing and Gambling Commission said Thursday that there is no evidence to suggest that the outcome of any game in question was altered by gambling interests.

Cyclones quarterback Hunter Dekkers was one of seven current or former athletes at Iowa and Iowa State who were criminally charged this week after allegedly placing bets in the state. All seven athletes allegedly bet on games involving their own schools, and four allegedly bet on games involving their own team.

Dekkers allegedly bet on an Iowa State football game in 2021, when he was the backup quarterback. Iowa backup kicker Aaron Blom allegedly bet the under on the Iowa-Iowa State football game that year. Both Dekkers and Blom allegedly hid their identity on their DraftKings account by using their parents’ information. Neither Dekkers nor Blom played in the games in question.

Iowa State quarterback Hunder Dekkers is one of seven current or former college athletes involved in the scandal. (Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The IRGC, per The Associated Press, said it had reviewed wagers placed on games in question and how lines moved for the games involved.

“In light of recent charges filed in the state regarding possible sports wagering violations by student athletes, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) would like to affirm that it does not currently have any information that would call into question the integrity of any sports wagering contest or event involving the University of Iowa or Iowa State University,” the IRGC said, via The Associated Press.

Former Iowa basketball player Ahron Ulis, who has since transferred to Nebraska, allegedly bet, too. Iowa State football player Dodge Sauser, Iowa State wrestler Paniro Johnson and former Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christenson are accused of placing bets, as is former Iowa State football player Eyioma Uwazurike, who is now with the Denver Broncos and has been suspended for the entire 2023 season for violating NFL gambling rules.

In total, the seven athletes allegedly placed more than 5,000 bets totaling more than $100,000. The seven are facing a tampering charge, which is an aggravated misdemeanor in the state of Iowa. Current athletes could lose all of their remaining NCAA eligibility as a result, too.

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