The Indiana Gaming Commission has issued a lifetime betting ban to Bert Neff for his role in the Alabama baseball betting scandal earlier this year, per the Wall Street Journal.
In April, Neff — a youth baseball coach in Indiana — allegedly attempted to place bets on an Alabama-LSU baseball game from the BetMGM sportsbook at Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark while in contact with Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon.
Bohannon was later fired for his role in the scandal. University of Cincinnati baseball coach Scott Googins also resigned after the scandal; Neff’s son is a pitcher for the Bearcats.
“Anytime during our normal regulatory activities we come across information that indicates a patron has engaged in conduct that does not support the integrity of gaming, there is a review done to determine whether statewide exclusion is appropriate,” IGC deputy director Jenny Reske told the Journal. “In Mr. Neff’s case, a review was conducted, and it was determined it was appropriate to place him on the exclusion list.”
Under the terms of the ban, Neff will be fined $1,000 the first time he is caught entering the gaming area of any Indiana casino. The fine increases to $2,000 for a second violation and to $4,000 for any subsequent violations. Neff would also have to surrender any gaming winnings.
Neff’s attorney denied that his client’s actions violated Indiana law or gaming rules. Neff plans to appeal the exclusion under a section of Indiana law that allows him to present his case before an administrative law judge.
The ban comes amid a crackdown on betting activity across college sports. In September, five current and former Iowa and Iowa State athletes pleaded guilty to lesser charges in a statewide betting probe.
