Another professional athlete will sit out a big chunk of their season over the use of retail or online sports betting sites — it's still unclear which.
The National Hockey League (NHL) announced Thursday that it suspended Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto for 41 games in connection with “activities relating to sports wagering.”
What those activities were, and whether they involved legal sports betting operators or another avenue, was left unsaid by the NHL. The Daily Faceoff, citing sources, reported the league’s investigation uncovered a connection between Pinto and a third-party bettor.
Case closed?
However, what the league was explicit about in its statement was that it did not appear Pinto himself wagered on NHL games. The NHL's collective-bargaining agreement with players does not say much about gambling, but it does state that any betting on the league's games is forbidden.
“The League’s investigation found no evidence that Pinto made any wagers on NHL games,” the league said in a press release. “The NHL considers this matter closed, absent the emergence of new information, and will have no further comment.”
The NHL announced today that it has suspended Shane Pinto for 41 games for activities relating to sports wagering. https://t.co/AvOhmVCVOc pic.twitter.com/3jI32Wu4T2
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 26, 2023
While the NHL considers the matter closed, whether lawmakers and regulators think the same remains to be seen.
Furthermore, the past year has seen an explosion of sanctions for athletes connected to sports betting, the growing legalization of which has made it more accessible, including to the people playing the games.
College and professional governing bodies are taking steps to curtail bad behavior and to educate athletes about the rules. These efforts have come as leagues and teams continue to form business relationships with sportsbook operators.
The Ottawa Senators — who wear helmets with stickers for sponsor Betway on them when they play at home — released a statement of their own following the NHL's announcement, with the team saying they "fully support" the league's gambling rules and will welcome back Pinto when permitted to do so.
According to the Canada and Ontario-based team, the investigation only concluded on Wednesday, which is when they received additional information.
“I want to apologize to the National Hockey League, the Ottawa Senators, my teammates, the fans and the city of Ottawa, and most importantly my family,” Pinto said in a statement released by the team. “I take full responsibility for my actions and look forward to getting back on the ice with my team.”
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