John Steppe, The Gazatte
IOWA CITY — University of Iowa football player Aaron Blom faces a charge of tampering with records as a result of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s sports gambling investigation.
A criminal complaint filed by the Johnson County Attorney’s Office Tuesday alleges Blom’s “approximately 170” underage sports wagers included one bet on an Iowa football game.
Blom, a backup kicker at the time, allegedly bet the “under total points” on the 2021 Iowa-Iowa State football game. He did not appear in the Hawkeyes’ 27-17 win.
The court document alleges he placed “approximately eight” bets on Iowa sporting events, including the aforementioned one on his own team.
The 170 alleged bets totaled more than $4,400, according to the criminal complaint.
The NCAA’s updated guidelines for reinstatement indicate someone who did what Blom allegedly did “will potentially face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports.”
Blom was 1-of-3 on field goal attempts in 2022 before Drew Stevens took over the starting kicker role early in the season. The Oskaloosa native did not see game action in his previous two years on campus.
Blom, like former Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christensen, is accused of disguising his identity by using his mother’s information to bet on the DraftKings sportsbook.
Both Blom and his mother “were cooperative during the investigation, according to the complaint,” and Blom made the with his mother’s “consent and knowledge.”
The court document said the bets were “routinely and consistently” made from Blom’s phone and came from locations that included “his university residence and areas of the university not routinely open to the public.”
The criminal complaint cites five “legal and regulatory frameworks” Blom allegedly violated, including underage gambling; violation of licensed sportsbook user terms and conditions; breach of university and NCAA policies; unfair wagering and conflict of interest; and tax implications.
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