In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting and opened the door for legal wagering, including on college sports.
Although the NCAA still forbids anyone in the industry from wagering, sportsbooks have been cultivating relationships in the years since through name, image, and likeness deals and athletic department sponsorships.
Suddenly, however, any relative harmony between the governing body and the betting industry has been put to the test. On May 1, betting on Alabama baseball was halted by the state of Ohio, and the Crimson Tide coach was subsequently fired.
A week later, more than 40 athletes at Iowa and Iowa State had come under investigation.
Today’s Friday report explores the roller coaster that is the relationship between sports betting operators and the college sports industry — and the struggle to keep NCAA contests clean.
