With millions of Americans having access to legal sports betting, concerns about problem gambling, athlete abuse and match-fixing continue to mount. Over the last year alone, a number of cases involving abuse by disgruntled athletes or players engaging in betting were recorded.
Player Dismissed Amid Gambling Investigation
When it comes to betting, sports leagues have strict rules and most do not permit betting on their particular sport. Players, coaches or other league staff that breach those rules can be subject to prosecution in some cases, temporary or permanent ineligibility from competing and fines.
Despite the efforts of professional and collegiate sports leagues, breaches are not uncommon, which impacts the teams and athletes. In one such case, a player from Virginia Tech Hokies men’s basketball team was reportedly dismissed, amid an ongoing betting probe. As reported by Sports Illustrated, citing sources close to the matter, Hysier Miller, the Virginia Tech Hokies men’s basketball guard has been dismissed from the program.
Miller transferred to the Virginia Tech Hokies from the Temple Owls following the recent season. Upon the transfer of the player in the spring, it is unclear what vetting his new team conducted regarding his tenure with the Owls. However, Miller’s former team is undergoing an investigation into unusual betting activity.
At the time of writing, the Virginia Tech Hokies haven’t confirmed or rejected the dismissal of Miller. Still, considering the ongoing probe into the Owls, in which the NCAA as well as other relevant sports bodies are possibly involved, it is likely that Miller’s dismissal is tied to the investigation.
Owls’ Game Against UAB Blazers Raises Concerns
The investigation into Temple stemmed from one of its games in March. At the time, on March 7, the Owls played against the UAB Blazers. The betting monitoring firm, US Integrity, flagged the game in question due to significant fluctuations in the point spread leading up to the game.
Ahead of the game, the betting line at one casino saw UAB shift from a 1.5-point favorite over the Owls early on March 7 to an eight-point favorite in the afternoon. Before the game started, the betting line stabilized at seven points.
Ultimately, Temple lost the game, while Miller only scored eight points. The player’s scored points were half of the average points he scored for the season, while the loss itself marked the second one in a row for Temple. To make matters worse, this was the second game the team failed to get anywhere near covering the spread, raising further suspicion.
