Hunter Dekkers, the quarterback for Iowa State, has been accused of gambling on Cyclones sports events, including a football game, and was charged Tuesday with tampering with records related to an Iowa Criminal Division investigation into sports gambling.
The criminal complaint revealed that Dekkers placed 366 online bets totaling more than $2,799. These bets included 26 Iowa State athletic events and a 2021 football game against Oklahoma State, where Dekkers was a backup and did not play. Iowa State won the game 24-21.
The Des Moines Register first reported the charge against Dekkers. The quarterback, who threw for over 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns last year, was expected to start again this season. However, his attorney said he would skip preseason camp.
Earlier this year, Iowa State and the University of Iowa announced they were cooperating with state gaming regulators investigating illegal online gambling on their campuses. Iowa State said about 15 athletes across three sports were suspected of violating gambling rules, while Iowa identified 26 athletes in various sports that might have compromised their NCAA eligibility.
In addition to Dekkers, three other current or former Iowa State athletes are facing the same charge, according to state online court records. One of them is Eyioma Uwazurike, a former Cyclones defensive lineman who was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2022. He was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for betting on Broncos games during his rookie season.
According to the complaint cited by the Register, all four athletes are accused of concealing their identities to deceive or conceal wrongdoing. They allegedly worked with third parties to make it appear that these parties, not the athletes themselves, were placing bets.
The complaint against Dekkers stated that he participated in a scheme with his parents, Scott Dekkers and Jami Dekkers, to conceal his online gambling and make it appear that Jami Dekkers placed the bets instead.
Dekkers could face a loss of eligibility under NCAA guidelines, which prohibit athletes from wagering on their own games or other sports at their schools.
Mark Weinhardt, Dekkers’ attorney, said that his client would not participate in preseason practices to focus on his studies and the defense of the criminal charge. He also stated that Dekkers would plead not guilty.
The issue of sports gambling scandals in college sports has been a growing concern since the Supreme Court ruling five years ago, which led to more acceptance of sports betting in various states. The NCAA has recently strengthened its punishment for athletes found to have engaged in betting activities related to their games or other sports at their schools.
The other three athletes charged with tampering with records connected to the investigation are offensive lineman Dodge Sauser and Iowa State wrestler Paniro Johnson, along with Eyioma Uwazurike.
All four athletes are scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 16.
