Gary Bettman's Gambling Scandal Involves All 32 Teams Of The NHL

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Hunter Bowman
December 7, 2023 (3:06 PM)

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In a recent revelation by Sports Business Insider Darren Rovell, a notable shift in Gary Bettman and the NHL's stance on sports gambling has come to light. Less than a decade ago, Bettman actively opposed gambling in the NHL, even writing letters to the Supreme Court against its legalization. Fast forward to today, and the NHL landscape is teeming with gambling advertisements and partnerships, including major players like MGM Grand and FanDuel.

Rovell pointed out a recent development, stating,

Less than a decade ago, Gary Bettman joined commissioners in opposing sports gambling, writing letters to the Supreme Court fighting its legalization. Yesterday, BetMGM added a licensed online slot game in NJ that has all 32 NHL team logos.

This apparent contradiction becomes more pronounced when examining the NHL's handling of sports wagering rules, as demonstrated by the suspension of Ottawa Senators forward, who received a 41-game suspension on October 27th this year for violating these rules. CNN and the NHL's investigation found no evidence of Pinto betting on NHL games.

In response to the suspension, the 22-year-old Pinto took responsibility and issued an apology, saying,

"I want to apologize to the National Hockey League, the Ottawa Senators, my teammates, the fans and city of Ottawa and most importantly my family. I take full responsibility for my actions and look forward to getting back on the ice with my team."

This situation raises questions about the NHL's evolving relationship with gambling, as they embrace partnerships while concurrently enforcing strict consequences for players involved in sports wagering outside the league.

Source: Hawksinsider