NIL and Gambling

[brentblum]

Wanted to jump in on this gambling topic as NIL has been discussed. I’m as disappointed to hear some of these guys gambled on Iowa State games at whatever amount as anyone. And who knows if the little amount of NIL money we’ve shared is a part of that. And for that I feel horrible for all.

But NIL has done so many positive things for Cyclones that doesn’t make the news. Just this week, a football player’s family was struggling to pay the bills back home and were close to getting their power turned off. We were able to find this player an opportunity in the community and he sent the money back home to help his folks. That won’t make headlines, but the impact is real.

 

[CyPhallus]

Idea: a "We Gamble" wing of the collective and take weekly donations with a poll of what bet we are riding with each week. If it's a winner put the winnings into a player fund and the stake into We Will. Promote what the bet is so everyone can root it on together, including the players. Instead of trying to wash our hands of this let's flip the f'in script and lean into it. Bring in Circa. Let it ride baby.

 

[Cycsk]

Wanted to jump in on this gambling topic as NIL has been discussed. I’m as disappointed to hear some of these guys gambled on Iowa State games at whatever amount as anyone. And who knows if the little amount of NIL money we’ve shared is a part of that. And for that I feel horrible for all.

But NIL has done so many positive things for Cyclones that doesn’t make the news. Just this week, a football player’s family was struggling to pay the bills back home and were close to getting their power turned off. We were able to find this player an opportunity in the community and he sent the money back home to help his folks. That won’t make headlines, but the impact is real.

Indeed, you can’t take responsibility for how player spends money. Nor can the money bet be linked to NIL any more than the cost of attendance stipend.

However, as you point out, you can influence their spending toward very good things. And that is what you’ve done.

 

[brentblum]

Idea: a "We Gamble" wing of the collective and take weekly donations with a poll of what bet we are riding with each week. If it's a winner put the winnings into a player fund and the stake into We Will. Promote what the bet is so everyone can root it on together, including the players. Instead of trying to wash our hands of this let's flip the f'in script and lean into it. Bring in Circa. Let it ride baby.

For what it’s worth, Riverside Casino gave the Iowa NIL Collective $500,000 to be the official casino of the Swarm Collective. We Will not do this for a variety of reasons.

 

[CyPhallus]

For what it’s worth, Riverside Casino gave the Iowa NIL Collective $500,000 to be the official casino of the Swarm Collective. We Will not do this for a variety of reasons.

Yeah I realize that doing anything to jeopardize the non profit status of We Will would be a terrible idea. What I proposed was mainly a joke, but thinking more about it I actually think we could raise a ton of money doing it and it'd be a hell of a lot of fun, especially if it was random games like MACtion barnburners.

 

[Gunnerclone]

For what it’s worth, Riverside Casino gave the Iowa NIL Collective $500,000 to be the official casino of the Swarm Collective. We Will not do this for a variety of reasons.

Yikes.

 

[Cycsk]

For what it’s worth, Riverside Casino gave the Iowa NIL Collective $500,000 to be the official casino of the Swarm Collective. We Will not do this for a variety of reasons.

I see what you did there. Nice.

 

[CloneLawman]

For what it’s worth, Riverside Casino gave the Iowa NIL Collective $500,000 to be the official casino of the Swarm Collective. We Will not do this for a variety of reasons.

Dirty Hawks. Dirty, dirty Hawks.

 

[MisterO]

Thanks for the OP. I gotta admit, when this first broke, I wondered if NIL was used to gamble…but then again, they’re adults, if the players want to spend money gambling and they can afford it, more power to them and they can do what they want. It’s not going to make me less likely to give in the future.

It’s just bad optics and I think @brentblum recognizes that- thanks again for the post and for trying to remind us what We Will does. This too shall pass.

 

[Frak]

Yeah I realize that doing anything to jeopardize the non profit status of We Will would be a terrible idea. What I proposed was mainly a joke, but thinking more about it I actually think we could raise a ton of money doing it and it'd be a hell of a lot of fun, especially if it was random games like MACtion barnburners.

I’m guessing the collective wants to stay as far away from gambling as possible right now. This isn’t really a lean into it situation.

 

[cyclone87]

Several of the gambling infractions were from 2021 before We Will was around. I think the ease of being able to do it on your phone is more of it. These guys were probably going to gamble regardless, hopefully this sets a clear example of what not to do for current and future players.

 

[Marcelason78]

Dirty Hawks. Dirty, dirty Hawks.

Just another ‘blindspot’.

 

[t-noah]

Idea: a "We Gamble" wing of the collective and take weekly donations with a poll of what bet we are riding with each week. If it's a winner put the winnings into a player fund and the stake into We Will. Promote what the bet is so everyone can root it on together, including the players. Instead of trying to wash our hands of this let's flip the f'in script and lean into it. Bring in Circa. Let it ride baby.

No. No. And NO!

Yeah I realize that doing anything to jeopardize the non profit status of We Will would be a terrible idea. What I proposed was mainly a joke, but thinking more about it I actually think we could raise a ton of money doing it and it'd be a hell of a lot of fun, especially if it was random games like MACtion barnburners.

Doesn't sound like you are joking. You are still pushing it. Your prerogative I guess. My response is still, No!

Think about it. You are on one hand telling these kids that they cannot bet. Then you want to potentially give them more money, some of it betting winnings? What kind of a signal is that sending?

 

[t-noah]

Wanted to jump in on this gambling topic as NIL has been discussed. I’m as disappointed to hear some of these guys gambled on Iowa State games at whatever amount as anyone. And who knows if the little amount of NIL money we’ve shared is a part of that. And for that I feel horrible for all.

But NIL has done so many positive things for Cyclones that doesn’t make the news. Just this week, a football player’s family was struggling to pay the bills back home and were close to getting their power turned off. We were able to find this player an opportunity in the community and he sent the money back home to help his folks. That won’t make headlines, but the impact is real.

Thank you for the post. You are handing this well. It seems to me that you and NIL (at ISU at least) are in the same position as the coaching staff and administration. Some will conclude that you could have done more, like suggesting the coaching staff could have done more. Or in the case of NIL money, maybe we shouldn't be giving them that because then they will spend it on gambling.

I'll repeat. You cannot make all the right decisions for these players. They have free will, they know the rules and are responsible for their own actions.

I'm glad you are showing some of the good side of NIL.

 

[BCClone]

Just another ‘blindspot’.

Starting to appear that Stevie Wonder has less blind spots than Kirk.

 

[jsb]

I hope that not many people are wondering if We Will money contributed to gambling. That seems pretty silly.

I do hope that We Will money does not go to any gamblers in the future. For example, if we manage to have a player or two that gets back on the team, I'm hopeful that they are cut out of We Will money. We keep hearing about how bad our resources are, so I'd hope we don't spend those limited funds on players that flaunted the rules so opening.

Considering most of our gamblers seemed to be so stupid and bet on their own team, I'm guessing this won't be much of an issue.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Starting to appear that Stevie Wonder has less blind spots than Kirk.

We listened to his presser...I'm convinced he doesn't think the players did anything wrong. Legally, they didn't (unless they were underage)...IF they were just students. However, student athletes have different (additional) rules that they have to follow. Apparently Kirk doesn't see it that way and hints that they are unfairly targeted within the greater student population. Nice job of enabling, Kirk.

 

[CtownCyclone]

Starting to appear that Stevie Wonder has less blind spots than Kirk.

Stevie Wonder isn't blind, it's an elaborate hoax!

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

We listened to his presser...I'm convinced he doesn't think the players did anything wrong. Legally, they didn't (unless they were underage)...IF they were just students. However, student athletes have different (additional) rules that they have to follow. Apparently Kirk doesn't see it that way and hints that they are unfairly targeted within the greater student population. Nice job of enabling, Kirk.

I don't disagree though. They geo fence the sports complexes but the general student body was seemingly left out from scrutiny.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

I don't disagree though. They geo fence the sports complexes but the general student body was seemingly left out from scrutiny.

Again...they are treated differently because they are student athletes. They also get perks not available to other students. It's part of their participation deal.