NCAA Permanently Bans College Basketball Players for Betting on Their Own Games
Three College Basketball Athletes Receive Lifetime Bans for Betting Violations
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has permanently banned three men’s basketball players after discovering their involvement in betting on their own games and deliberately manipulating their performances to profit from prop bets. This action highlights the NCAA’s commitment to combating the harmful effects of sports gambling on collegiate athletes.
Details of the Performance Alteration Scheme
The NCAA Committee on Infractions recently disclosed findings regarding former Fresno State teammates Mykell Robinson and Jalen Weaver, along with Steven Vasquez from San Jose State. The three players allegedly exchanged betting information and placed wagers on games in which they participated.
In January 2025, Robinson and Vasquez collaborated to financially benefit from Robinson intentionally underperforming in a regular-season matchup. Investigators uncovered text messages showing Robinson’s intent to miss several statistical benchmarks. The trio pooled $2,200 on bets predicting Robinson’s lower-than-expected performance, resulting in payouts close to $16,000.
Further investigation revealed Robinson placed around 13 daily fantasy sports prop bets throughout the season, some targeting his own performance. Before a December 2024 game, Robinson wagered on Weaver after sharing betting line details, while Weaver placed $50 parlay bets on himself, Robinson, and another player, which yielded $260 in winnings.
Detection and Consequences of the Betting Scandal
The NCAA became aware of these violations after Fresno State and a sports-betting monitoring entity detected suspicious wagers related to Robinson’s individual performance props. An NCAA enforcement investigation uncovered supportive evidence including text exchanges, betting slips, and monetary transactions.
While Robinson and Vasquez chose not to cooperate with the inquiry, Weaver admitted his role. All three athletes were ruled permanently ineligible under NCAA regulations, which regard betting on one’s own games as a severe breach. This case serves as a stern reminder amid the expanding landscape of legal sports betting in the United States.
Rising Concerns Over Sports Betting and Athlete Integrity
Amid growing concerns about the influence of legalized sports gambling on college sports, the NCAA has urged state authorities to ban player-specific prop bets on college events. The association warns these wagers create incentives for match-fixing and increase risks of harassment toward student-athletes. Prediction markets, often operating in legal gray areas with limited oversight, also pose emerging challenges to maintaining sports integrity.
