NCAA Bans Three College Basketball Players for Gambling on Prop Markets

The NCAA has announced that three college basketball players have been permanently banned from competing and expelled from their schools for gambling violations.

Mykell Robinson, Steven Vasquez, and Jalen Weaver were all at Fresno State during the 2023-24 season, before Vasquez moved to San Jose State.

The NCAA announced that Robinson and Vasquez conspired with a sportsbook trader to place illicit bets. Text messages between Robinson and Vasquez revealed that Robinson intended to underperform in a game against Colorado State on January 7, 2025.

Robinson, Vasquez, and the unnamed sportsbook trader bet a combined $2,200 on Robinson’s prop markets, which paid out $15,950. The money was then distributed among the three bettors.

These bets were flagged by a Nevada sportsbook in the game between Fresno State and Colorado State on January 7, leading to the investigation.

Robinson Placed Multiple Bets on His Own Prop Markets

Robinson was the most involved of the three players in the scandal. As well as manipulating his own performance, he seemingly orchestrated the betting from Vasquez and Weaver.

He transferred $200 to Vasquez through his mother’s Apple Pay before the game against Colorado State. After the bets were won, Vasquez then transferred $1,425 back to Robinson’s mother.

Vasquez’s involvement is limited to this one game, where he wagered on Robinson’s prop markets. He is not accused of manipulating his own performance or betting on his own games.

Robinson, however, placed 13 more daily fantasy bets during the season, totaling $454. Some of the bets included his own prop markets, and some were on the over line. Not all of the bets won, including a parlay that bet on him going over his total rebounds. He did win one parlay that included him going over his three-pointers made.

Weaver Banned After Making One Bet

Some of Robinson’s bets also included Weaver’s prop markets, and he exchanged information about the bets he was placing with his Fresno State teammate.

Weaver’s involvement in the betting scandal was limited to exchanging messages with Robinson about their respective markets and placing one parlay. The only bet he is accused of making was a $50 parlay that included him having more assists than his line, Robinson making more three-pointers, and one other player’s total points. The bet won $260.

Weaver admitted the violation in an interview with enforcement staff in February 2025 and was then released from the team. Robinson and Vasquez, however, refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Like Vasquez, Weaver is not accused of manipulating his own performance for profit. However, the NCAA Committee on Infractions noted that “the starting point for student-athletes who bet on their own games is a permanent loss of eligibility.”

The NCAA has proposed relaxing its betting rules to deregulate professional sports wagering for college athletes. But any gambling on players’ own games would continue to be strictly forbidden.

NCAA Urged States to Ban College Prop Betting

Last year, NCAA President Charlie Baker urged states to ban prop bets in college sports. Several states, including New York and Ohio, have followed Baker’s suggestion in prohibiting the bets. A bill in New Jersey also proposes doing the same in the state.

Many of the bets placed by Robinson were through DFS, however, which is not under the same level of regulation as licensed sportsbooks.

Additionally, prediction market platform Kalshi has now introduced college football markets on its site. The markets are limited to moneylines, point spreads, and total points, but as the company expands, prop bets could be added. The NCAA said it is “deeply concerned” by prediction markets creating event contracts on college sports.

Tim Buckley, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for the NCAA, released a statement, commenting: “Sport integrity is paramount for the NCAA, and we are deeply concerned by unregulated and unprotected markets that pose a threat to competition integrity and student-athlete safety.”

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