Iowa Sports Betting Investigation: Seven Athletes Charged in Probe

Iowa’s special enforcement bureau has alleged criminal activity by those current or former Iowa and Iowa State athletes. Here’s what we know.

In what is perhaps the most explosive sports betting scandal in recent college sports history, seven current or former Iowa and Iowa State athletes were charged with one count each of tampering with records related to an investigation. This is the latest development in an inquiry that was announced in May that, between the two schools, looked into 111 people, including 26 athletes and one athletic department employee. Online betting went live Jan. 1, 2021 in Iowa, but it is illegal for those under the age of 21 to bet on sports, and it’s illegal to knowingly permit someone under 21 to bet. NCAA rules also don’t let any athlete or athletic department employee to bet on any sport the NCAA sponsors at any level.

While Iowa’s racing and gaming commission reviews markets to look for irregular betting patterns, Iowa’s special enforcement bureau (essentially, its in-state FBI) investigates potential criminal activity, which is what’s alleged here in seven different complaints.

The complaints all have a pattern. Complaints allege that the athletes bet on either FanDuel or DrafKings’ platforms using their cell phones. Multiple used family members’ names to try and cover up their activity.

Investigators found that multiple athletes bet at their university residences and “areas of the university not routinely open to the public” which implies athletic facilities or locker rooms, which are typically accessed by key cards or fobs. Here’s what we know about the charges against each athlete.

Hunter Dekkers: Iowa State football player since 2020

Dekkers was Iowa State’s starter under center last season :: Des Moines Register/USA TODAY Sports

The most high-profile of the athletes charged is Hunter Dekkers, who started at quarterback for Iowa State last season. The complaint alleged he bet approximately $2,799 366 times under an account registered to his mother, Jami. He allegedly placed 297 while he was underage, 26 were on Iowa sporting events and one was on Iowa State’s 2021 game against Oklahoma State, which he did not play in.

Dekkers’s attorney told ESPN that he is stepping away from the team, but will plead not guilty.

"So he can focus on his studies and on the defense of this criminal charge, Hunter has informed the University and the coaching staff that he cannot participate in fall football camp," attorney Mark Weinhardt said.

Ahron Ulis: Iowa basketball player from 2020 to ‘23

According to the complaint, Ulis used the name of his older brother, Anton Porter, to create the account. He placed 1,850 bets, 740 of which were before he turned 21, totalling $34,900. At least one was on an Iowa sporting event and over 430 were on NCAA football or basketball games. He also participated in fantasy leagues for money. Ulis has since transferred to Nebraska.

The Lincoln Journal Star reported that Nebraska didn’t become aware until after he signed with the Huskers and coach Fred Hoiberg didn’t know about criminal charges until they were filed Wednesday.

“We’ve been working with compliance on this. We were made aware of a possible eligibility issue with him,” Hoiberg said. “... We weren’t certain where the eligibility question would end up. We just focused on the basketball end of things this summer.”

The Journal Star also reported that Ulis is in Spain with the team on a preseason tour and has been held out of contests.

Aaron Blom: Iowa football player from 2020 to ‘22

According to the complaint, Blom, a backup kicker for Iowa, used a DraftKings account registered in his mother, Michelle’s, name and operated on his phone with her consent and knowledge. According to records obtained by subpoena, Blom made approximately 170 wagers, totaling over $4,400, eight of which were on Iowa sporting events including an Iowa-Iowa State rivalry game Blom would have been on the bench during. The bet cashed by .5 points.

Aaron and Michelle were cooperative with the investigation and admitted that they were transparent with each other and Aaron’s father about the bets and how to handle the taxes on them.

Dodge Sauser: Iowa State football player from 2021 to ‘23

According to the complaint, he placed all wagers while underage using an account registered to Amanda Sauser . The complaint alleges he placed 113 bets totaling $3,075. Twelve were placed on Iowa State football games including those against Ohio, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Eyioma Uwazurike: Iowa State football player from 2016 to ‘21

Uwazurike completed approximately 801 bets totaling over $21,361 under an account registered to Rachel Francis. Four of them were on Iowa State football games, including two he played in. The account also placed wagers on 32 Broncos games and Broncos players during the 2022 season. Uwazurike was drafted by the Broncos in April 2022. Uwazurike was suspended indefinitely for gambling by the NFL in July.

Gehrig Christensen: Iowa baseball player from 2022 to ‘23

According to a complaint, Christensen made 559 wagers totaling $2,400 under the name of his mother, Jill Mingles. Mingles and Christensen were cooperative with investigators and according to the complaint, “Mingles said that she even helped set up the account for him and acknowledged it was a silly mistake to do so.”

He told investigators he’d wagered “mostly on NBA games.” They found that of his approximately 559 bets totaling $2,400, 23 of them were placed on Iowa sporting events.

Paniro Johnson: Iowa State wrestler since 2022

1,283 bets totaling over $45,640. Twenty-five of them were placed on Iowa State sporting events.

A statement from the Iowa department of public safety says that the investigation is ongoing and may result in other charges.