The NHL suspended Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto for 41 games on Thursday, making the 22-year-old American the first modern-day hockey player banned for sports betting.
The league said the midseason ban related to “activities related to sports betting” and that its investigation found no evidence that Pinto had bet on NHL games. He did not release other details, including what Pinto did or how he was arrested.
“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. press release published by the team. “I take full responsibility for my actions and look forward to returning to the ice with my team. »
Pinto is not appealing the suspension, as part of an agreement between the league, the player and the NHL Players’ Association to resolve the situation. The league said it considers the matter closed unless there is new information in the case.
Coach DJ Smith told reporters at the team’s morning skate in New York that the Senators would help Pinto and welcome him with open arms when he was eligible to return.
This would be the middle of this season, once Pinto signed a contract. He is currently an unsigned restricted free agent and was the last player in that category without a deal, which this suspension begins to explain.
“Shane is a valued member of our hockey club; an engaging and intelligent young man who made poor decisions that resulted in a suspension from the National Hockey League,” the Senators said in a statement. “We know he is remorseful for his mistakes. The Ottawa Senators fully support the NHL’s rules of play. While saddened to learn of this issue, the entire organization remains committed to Shane and will work together to do what is necessary to help provide him with the support to resolve his problems and become an important contributor to our community.
Pinto is the latest professional athlete suspended since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed sports betting to be legalized in 2018. At least 10 NFL players were recently banned for the game, notably receiver Calvin Ridley who missed the entire 2022 season for bet on championship matches. The NBA and Major League Baseball have not announced any recent sanctions for gambling, although the topic is a growing concern. in college sports.
According to industry estimates, Americans bet more than $220 billion on sports in the first five years since the Supreme Court’s decision.
The NHL and NHLPA collective bargaining agreement states that “betting on any NHL game is prohibited.” NHL teams can go so far as to prohibit employees of hockey operations or the business side from even joining fantasy leagues for money.
The Senators in 2021 became the first team to add a gaming-related entity as a helmet sponsor with Bet99. Their home headsets now bear the logo of Betway, an international gambling company.
Two years ago, the league investigated Evander Kane for gambling after his ex-wife claimed he bet on NHL games, including against his own team. Kane has denied the allegations as well as an investigation by NHL security and the Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler firm. found no evidence that Kane had bet on or tried to throw all the games.
Before Pinto, the last NHL players to be suspended for gambling were Billy Taylor, Don Gallinger and Babe Pratt in the 1940s.
