Fresno State Basketball Team Subject of California Sports Betting Inquiry

The Fresno State men’s basketball team is the subject of a California sports betting probe being conducted by the university as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Robert Kuwada of The Fresno Bee first reported the news. According to his findings, multiple members of the Fresno State Bulldogs basketball team are the subjects of the investigation.

Details on the matter are so far scarce. However, both the university released the following statement: “Fresno State men’s basketball student-athletes Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins are being withheld from competition as the university reviews an eligibility matter.” University sources confirm to Kuwada that both players are part of the investigation. While not named by the college, guard Mykell Robinson is apparently also part of the investigation. He has not suited up for the Bulldogs since January.

On top of this, the Mountain West Conference, in which Fresno State plays, also released a statement of their own: The Mountain West has been in communication with Fresno State as the institution processes a review of an eligibility matter.”

It is impossible to glean the nature of this California sports betting scandal based on these cookie-cutter comments alone. But it certainly seems serious if statements are getting released on the matter.

Exact Details of California Sports Betting Scandal Remain Unknown

Kuwada notes that he has yet to confirm the nature of this inquiry. However, he does explain that this isn’t simply a matter of betting on sports in California when it’s not yet legal. The NCAA has a strict policy on sports betting for student-athletes. As Kuwada writes:

“It is unclear the potential level of involvement of the players in any alleged betting, and whether it’s alleged that bets were placed, or placed on or against the Bulldogs. The NCAA prohibits betting on games or providing information to any individuals involved in or associated with any type of sports betting activities involving intercollegiate, professional or amateur games or competition. That includes pools, parlays and prop bets, in-game betting and single-game wagers. The prohibitions apply to student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff members regardless of their sport or division of competition.

“Student-athletes who violate those rules will be ineligible for competition, subject to appeal. The Fresno State student-athlete handbook also states that gambling on outside teams will result in ineligibility for at least one year. And the loss of a season of competition, and gambling on Fresno State games will result in permanent ineligibility.”

Until more details emerge or the investigation is complete, the violations could fall into any of these buckets. The absence of concrete bans or suspensions suggest the investigation is ongoing. But given how much time Mykell Robinson has missed, it seems like Fresno State has been embroiled in this California sports betting scandal for a while.

Additional Reports on Fresno State Scandal Starting to Emerge

As mentioned above, little about this Fresno State sports betting scandal is confirmed. In the aftermath of the initial report, though, some are now saying the basketball players bet on their own games. Here is Front Office Sports’ Colin Salao with more:

“According to ABC30 Fresno sports anchor Alec Nolan, Weaver, and Robinson were allegedly betting on prop bets involving the Bulldogs. [This included] the under on points total and rebounds. Weaver has also already been removed from the team. Collins was allegedly betting on other sports and not Bulldogs games. His status with the team is still unclear.”

If this proves accurate, Weaver and Robinson are tracking toward lifetime bans. But again, the investigation first needs to play out before cementing any theories in stone.

On the court, these loom as pretty big losses. Weaver is the team’s leading scorer while both Collins and Robinson place in the top five. Collins also paces the Bulldogs in assists and minutes per game. Granted, the team has lost enough that it’s not competing for anything special. But it certainly matters that such core parts of the squad are involved.

Fresno State Investigation Prompts Discussion on Potential NCAA Gambling Problems

With sports betting in the United States still on the precipitous rise, the number of sportsbook violations and overarching gambling scandals has also increased in frequency. The same goes for California sports betting scandals, specifically.

Last year, as one example, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani found himself linked to a California sports betting scandal when it came to light that his former interpreter used the former’s money to illegally bet on sports. Others have also highlighted that the number of NCAA sports betting scandals are becoming more prevalent. Coaches, staff members and student-athletes have been tied to illicit activities on a semi-regular basis over the past few years.

Not surprisingly, NCAA president Charlie Baker has pushed for sportsbooks in the United States to remove college player-specific wagers from their catalog. Certain states, meanwhile, have certain college sports betting rules in place.

It will be interesting to see whether some of these more localized issues impact the California sports betting trajectory. At this time, we would learn no. Policymakers are aware of the implications that come with the legalization of California sports betting. Potential scandals will always be a focus.

What’s more, The Golden State has time before it needs to consider that matter. The latest reporting suggests that California sports betting will not be legalized before 2027.

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