In 2023, sports betting has become so accepted it’s almost as much a part of the game as the action itself. These days, fans no longer need to head down to the local store to mark their picks on a sheet of paper, it is available at their fingertips with a plethora of apps.
The National Hockey League (NHL) has fully embraced the world of sports betting, with commercials for apps airing during games, some featuring hockey greats such as Connor McGregor and perhaps the greatest, Wayne Gretzky, all aimed at encouraging fans to drop some cash.
Well, low and behold, it seems what is okay for NHL fans isn’t okay for NHL players no matter what. Late last month, Ottawa Senators player Shane Pinto, 22, was suspended by the league for 41 games (which equates to half a season) for “activities related to sports wagering.” While no details on these “activities” were released, the NHL’s investigation into Pinto indicated he had not bet on any NHL games.
So it seems that NHL brass are okay with pumping the idea of betting on sports into the heads of fans without a hit of irony considering the real problems that gambling can cause for those with a lack of control and, by extension, their families. But as soon as one of those gamblers is one of their own, the hammer must be brought down. By comparison, in 2004, when Todd Bertuzzi punched Steven Moore in the back of the head and drove him into the ice, fracturing some of his vertebrae and concussing him, he received a 33-game suspension. In 2007, Chris Simon of the New York Islanders stomped on the leg of an opponent with his skate. His penalty? 30 games.
Granted it isn’t fully clear what exactly Pinto did. But it is questionable that a player would get a half-season suspension on his first offense. Some feel the punishment was justified and sends a strong message to players that they must avoid this kind of behavior. Perhaps the NHL should make sure its players don’t watch the commercials during its games just in case.
