NCAA permanently bans Fresno State players over gambling
The NCAA has permanently banned three former Fresno State men’s basketball players following a high-profile investigation into gambling-related infractions during the 2024–25 season.
The players — Mykell Robinson, Steven Vasquez and Jalen Weaver — were found to have deliberately manipulated their performances to profit from betting markets. According to the NCAA Committee on Infractions, the athletes placed wagers on daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests that included their own games, a violation deemed among the most serious breaches of integrity rules.
Self-reporting and suspicious wagering patterns
The investigation began in February after Fresno State self-reported concerns raised by men’s basketball coach Vance Walberg, alongside alerts from a sports betting monitoring service. Suspicious prop bets had been placed on Robinson’s performance metrics, leading to a full-scale NCAA review.
The probe revealed that Robinson and Vasquez exchanged text messages in January discussing plans for Robinson to “underperform” in certain statistical categories, which they then wagered on through a DFS operator. ESPN identified Sleeper as one of the platforms used.
In one case, the players and an associate wagered $2,200 on Robinson’s under performance, later collecting $15,950 in winnings after he intentionally fell short of expectations. Robinson would go on to place 13 DFS bets, including parlays on his own and teammates’ performances, while Weaver also placed a $50 parlay involving himself, winning $260.
Harshest NCAA penalty
The Committee on Infractions cited the case as a textbook example of “compromising the integrity of competition.” In 2023, the NCAA updated its gambling rules to allow permanent loss of eligibility for athletes who attempt to influence their own games or share insider information with bettors.
Robinson and Vasquez refused to cooperate with investigators, while Weaver admitted to his role. Their actions were reviewed by a three-member panel, including Jason Leonard (Oklahoma Executive Director of Athletics Compliance), Kay Norton (Northern Colorado President Emerita), and Roderick Perry (former IU Indianapolis Athletics Director). The ruling permanently revokes the eligibility of all three athletes, ending their NCAA careers.
Fallout for Fresno State and beyond
The impact on college programmes was immediate. Robinson was dismissed from the North Texas basketball team following his transfer, Weaver was suspended indefinitely alongside teammate Zaon Collins, and Vasquez departed the San Jose State squad. The Mountain West Conference also conducted a separate review of the scheme.
The NCAA emphasised that the permanent bans serve as a clear warning: gambling violations will not be tolerated, and the integrity of collegiate sport remains a top priority.
Growing spotlight on betting in college sports
The decision comes at a time when gambling-related concerns are increasingly prominent in US college athletics. In February, at least three programmes — Eastern Michigan, Mississippi Valley State, and North Carolina A&T — were linked to a separate probe into suspicious betting patterns, raising fears of point-shaving or match-fixing.
In April, pressure mounted on regulators as the popularity of prop bets and parlays involving college athletes soared. Many student-athletes reported harassment from disgruntled bettors, leading some states to ban college prop betting altogether.
The NCAA itself has been re-examining its rules. In May, the Division I Board of Directors voted 21–1 to advance a proposal to deregulate wagering on professional sports for athletes, coaches and staff. However, betting on NCAA competition remains strictly prohibited.
Meanwhile, off the court, the NCAA partnered with Venmo last month aimed at supporting college athletes who face harassment and abuse on the popular payment app. The collaboration will see the launch a reporting hotline for athletes facing harassment and abuse linked to gambling. The collaboration was prompted by incidents such as former Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne receiving payment requests from angry bettors after a poor performance.
