Posted on: August 29, 2023, 11:36h.
Last updated on: August 29, 2023, 11:36h.
College athletes at approximately 150 colleges and universities now have the ability to confidentially report suspicions of betting involvement. This new tool, integrated into the RealResponse platform, allows players to report betting suspicions anonymously.
The NCAA strictly prohibits its student-athletes from participating in betting on college sports. However, with the integration of US Integrity’s tool into the RealResponse platform, student-athletes can now report suspicions of betting anonymously.
If a student-athlete believes that confidential information, such as a player’s injury status, is being shared with an outside source involved in sports betting, they can report the violation to US Integrity. US Integrity is a watchdog organization dedicated to eliminating fraud and corruption in US sports.
RealResponse was established in 2015 by former D1 basketball player David Chadwick, who realized that players felt disconnected from their school administrators and athletic department officials during his time at Rice and Valparaiso. The platform enables players to complete surveys anonymously and discuss sensitive matters with school and team officials privately over the internet.
Taking a Proactive Approach
Effective immediately, the 150 colleges and universities using RealResponse can now empower their players to self-report suspicions of betting activities. US Integrity representatives believe that this proactive approach will enable early detection and prevent outside influences from compromising the integrity of the game.
Protecting the health and wellbeing of student-athletes who have dedicated their lives to competing at the highest levels, while simultaneously pursuing a higher education, is of utmost importance,” said Matthew Holt, Co-Founder and CEO of US Integrity. “This new solution combines the expertise and experience of US Integrity and RealResponse to achieve just that.”
The tip reporting feature on the RealResponse platform follows the introduction of the “Athlete Alert” text line in May 2023. Supported by US Integrity, the Athlete Alert allows players to anonymously provide tips on any improprieties they witness regarding “players, coaches, trainers, and any other individuals.” The anonymity of both the text line and the RealResponse reporting feature ensures that players can report issues without fear of retaliation.
A study commissioned by the NCAA earlier this year revealed that nearly 70% of college students have placed bets on sports in the past year.
Rising Concerns
As the NCAA football season gets underway, the widespread legalization of sports betting in over 30 states raises concerns about game integrity. RealResponse believes that integrating an anonymous self-reporting tool into their platform will strengthen safeguards and enable experts to detect and prevent betting schemes.
When a report is submitted through RealResponse, campus administrators can promptly assign US Integrity’s collegiate response team, which consists of highly trained professionals in the wager-monitoring field, to assess, verify, and forward the report to the appropriate authorities,” explained US Integrity.
The new reporting service is available for free to existing RealResponse collegiate clients. An add-on service allows anyone, from parents to friends of players, to report gambling-related concerns.