In a recent twist involving Gary Bettman and the NHL, Sports Business Insider Darren Rovell has shed light on what seems to be a hypocritical stance on sports gambling. Notably, less than ten years ago, Bettman was actively opposing gambling in the NHL, even writing letters to the Supreme Court to fight against its legalization. However, today, the NHL landscape is saturated with gambling advertisements and partnerships, with companies like MGM Grand and FanDuel dominating the scene.
According to Rovell's findings, yesterday, BetMGM introduced a licensed online slot game in New Jersey featuring logos of all 32 NHL teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks and the remaining 31 teams.
This apparent contradiction in the NHL's stance on gambling is further highlighted by their decision to suspend Ottawa Senators forward for 41 games on October 27th this year. The suspension resulted from a violation of the NHL's sports wagering rules, although no evidence was found of Pinto betting on NHL games, as stated by CNN and the NHL's investigation.
The situation raises eyebrows as it appears that while the NHL is diving headfirst into gambling partnerships, they are simultaneously enforcing strict consequences for players involved in sports wagering outside the league.
