26 Iowa Athletes File Lawsuit Seeking Damages Over Illegal Betting Accusations

A group of 26 athletes from Iowa have initiated a class-action lawsuit against local authorities and the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). They are seeking financial redress and unspecified penalties in response to accusations of illegal sports betting, which they argue were made without proper authority and violated their rights.

Unwarranted Investigation

The state court validated the athletes’ claims of illegitimate accusations and improper investigation by the DCI on March 1st. The DCI had utilized Kibana tracking software, developed by GeoComply, to gather evidence against the athletes. This software identifies the locations from where sports bets are placed and pinpoints areas with high betting activity.

However, the court ruled that the DCI’s use of the software was illegal, as the department lacked clear grounds to suspect the players of wrongdoing before initiating surveillance.

Under the law, the absence of clear suspicions prevents surveillance, obtaining search warrants, and conducting criminal investigations.

Career-Ending Accusations

DCI experts found that players were placing bets before turning 18, including through others’ accounts. Some of the accused athletes were NCAA college football players. Some even initially agreed to the charges, paying fines, before the court ruling on the illegitimacy of the investigation.

Not, the athletes’ legal representatives argue that the DCI’s actions have caused significant harm. The athletes have encountered difficulties in continuing their professional development, and according to the legal team, many have had to end their careers due to the accusations.