NCAA permanently bans three players for betting on their own games

In the United States, three college basketball players were permanently banned by the NCAA following an investigation into gambling violations during the 2024-25 season. Mykell Robinson and Steven Vasquez, who played for Fresno State and San Jose State, were found to have colluded to manipulate game outcomes by betting on their performances. Jalen Weaver, Robinson's teammate at Fresno State, also participated. The investigation began after a sportsbook raised flags over suspicious betting activity associated with Robinson. Robinson and Vasquez, both former roommates, communicated through text messages about Robinson's plan to deliberately underperform in key statistical categories during games to ensure that specific bets won. This scheme involved a collective $2,200 bet among the three individuals on his underperformance, ultimately resulting in a $15,950 payout among the bettors. The NCAA's findings indicated a clear breach of integrity and placed significant scrutiny on college athletics. While the NCAA took action against these players, the governing body did not impose sanctions on Fresno State or San Jose State. The universities cooperated with the NCAA during the investigation, suggesting they reported their concerns proactively. Following the bans, all three players were removed from their respective teams and are no longer enrolled at their schools, which leads to broader implications for college athletes and the integrity of sportsmanship within collegiate athletics. The unfolding situation reflects the NCAA's growing concern over gambling activities linked to student-athletes, as many industries are experiencing an increase in betting-related issues. This incident is among several investigations into gambling practices in college sports, highlighting the need for enhanced regulatory measures to ensure fair play and ethical behavior among student-athletes.