Around The League 40: As we barrel towards 40 teams

[DaveG]

The NHL has fully embraced sports betting in sponsors, advertising, fantasy leagues, Vegas odds, and as we've seen with the Canes and Dundon's attempt, in the arena.

I realize it's not allowed, so Pinto broke the rules and has to face the consequences. On the flip side, I have no idea what Pinto did, but unless he was betting on Ottawa Senator games he personally played in, then it's a bit hypocritical of the NHL.

So no idea on if he bet on Sens games, but given the league rules around it he DEFINITELY bet on hockey since players are allowed to bet on other sports with no issues. Though I also don't know if it's like the NFL where "well, he gambled on a college football game, but he was at the team hotel when he did it so suspend his ass".

 

[A Star is Burns]

Meh, there are plenty of rules in life that don't feel fair or convenient. Sometimes they are fairly dumb or hypocritical. But these players agree to abide by them or suffer the consequences. I feel by this point players in all sports should think twice before doing anything gambling-related given that suspensions have been happening across sports in recent years. Even a small mistake can have big consequences.

Also, isn't at least some of the sports gambling revenue (at least some of the ad-related stuff would have to be) part of the revenue the players share and want to grow? If so, I doubt they really care about the hypocrisy or whatever of ads on a helmet or them being shoved into every broadcast because it makes them money too.

 

[Chrispy]

So no idea on if he bet on Sens games, but given the league rules around it he DEFINITELY bet on hockey since players are allowed to bet on other sports with no issues. Though I also don't know if it's like the NFL where "well, he gambled on a college football game, but he was at the team hotel when he did it so suspend his ass".

The NHL said in its release he didn't bet on NHL games.

 

[SlavinAway]

The NHL said in its release he didn't bet on NHL games.

Well... This creates more questions than answers.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Yeah that's tough to make heads or tails of.

Could it be daily fantasy NHL stuff? He didn't bet on, say, the outcome of a game, but did FanDuel or something and bet on people getting goals/assists/points?

 

[Sens1Canes2]

The NHL said in its release he didn't bet on NHL games.

Garrioch had a tweet where league sources said Pinto’s online betting account got flagged for unusual activity.

I’m guessing he placed a very large and unusual bet based on some inside info. Which I’d imagine, regardless of the sport, is frowned upon.

Also - ARGH. Pinto and Formenton would be incredibly useful.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Yeah, if he's not betting on NHL games, he had to have gotten caught using inside information.

Since this investigation apparently began during the summer, that limits what sports he could have been betting on.

 

[Svechhammer]

 

[cptjeff]

The NHL has fully embraced sports betting in sponsors, advertising, fantasy leagues, Vegas odds, and as we've seen with the Canes and Dundon's attempt, in the arena.

I realize it's not allowed, so Pinto broke the rules and has to face the consequences. On the flip side, I have no idea what Pinto did, but unless he was betting on Ottawa Senator games he personally played in, then it's a bit hypocritical of the NHL.

Yeah, a guy not under NHL contract did something the NHL is actively endorsing. He's a dumbass for sure, but come the f*** on. This is shockingly hypocritical.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Yeah, if he's not betting on NHL games, he had to have gotten caught using inside information.

Since this investigation apparently began during the summer, that limits what sports he could have been betting on.

is there some nhl specific rule about gambling on other sports using inside info? half a season seems incredibly steep for betting on another sport -- that said, these guys are also so stupid, why even bet at all when everyone knows the sports/gambling combo is under a microscope these days

 

[Svechhammer]

Yeah, a guy not under NHL contract did something the NHL is actively endorsing. He's a dumbass for sure, but come the f*** on. This is shockingly hypocritical.

I mean if he wasn't betting on NHL games, but actively using one of the services that are actively endorsed by the NHL to the extent that he might have been using the service that advertises on the helmet he's wearing every game....

If that's the case, and they don't have him caught betting on hockey games? That's kinda bullshit and I wouldn't be shocked if it ends up in another player strike in the very near future

 

[A Star is Burns]

Because sports leagues are in bed with gambling sites, they have to be strict with the players on them. You have to make even small, seemingly silly things have fairly big punishments. That's the only way to keep some level of confidence and integrity up. And again, the players are accepting of this on some level because they are making something off of it too.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

NHL is being purposely vague here. Hard to draw conclusions based on the information at hand

 

[hangman005]

Maybe he bet on when, for how much and how long his next contract would be.

 

[A Star is Burns]

What can we possibly expect when the league is run by Gary Bettman and Bill Daly Fantasy? Smh.

 

[DaveG]

Maybe he bet on when, for how much and how long his next contract would be.

sure as hell hope he took the under on the AAV in that case

 

[Blueline Bomber]

is there some nhl specific rule about gambling on other sports using inside info? half a season seems incredibly steep for betting on another sport -- that said, these guys are also so stupid, why even bet at all when everyone knows the sports/gambling combo is under a microscope these days

I mean, betting using inside info is incredibly suspect in the first place. But depending on where he got the inside info from, it could be disastrous PR for the league if he WASN’T harshly punished.

The league is in bed with various gambling sites/companies/etc. Hell, Ottawa’s helmet sponsor is one. I have to imagine they’re all in a bit of a panic over this, because it threatens the “integrity“ (and I use that word very lightly…) of gambling.

 

[Svechhammer]

Here's a pic of Pinto from last year

Note the helmet logo

 

[WreckingCrew]

Intentionally & repeatedly head-hunt players, injure them, concussion, etc...minor fine or 1-2 game suspsension

Gambling in a league that's sponsored by multiple gambling groups...SUSPEND HIM HALF A SEASON!!!

The NHL wants YOU to have a gambling addiction for their revenue, but not their players because that's unhealthy and problematic...

 

[To Be Determined]

So does his suspension begin after he signs?

That is logical, but i haven't paid close enough attention to anything to see it explicitly stated.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

So does his suspension begin after he signs?

That is logical, but i haven't paid close enough attention to anything to see it explicitly stated.

No. Game 1 of the season

 

[Lempo]

41 game suspension

The QO should have expired in July, though, unless Ottawa has explicitly extended it. Which may well be the case if he also had some other standing offers from Ottawa to choose from.

I sure would like to know how it plays behind the scenes in practice, do the teams just extend the QO pretty much automatically and so pretty much null the CBA clause on the July expiration of the QO?

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Ah, so it's sounding like he didn't bet on any NHL games. But he himself gave insider information to someone else, who bet on games using that info?

 

[mikeyfan]

I have a question, I hope someone can answer and explain. Since this is an off ice event Shane's Salary would not count against the Cap. So if the Senators were to sign him for say a 1 year 3 million dollar contract, Technically when the Suspension was lifted the Senators cap space could be well over the 3 million dollar hit, thus no cap violation.

So why wouldn't the Sens sign him now?

 

[cptjeff]

Intentionally & repeatedly head-hunt players, injure them, concussion, etc...minor fine or 1-2 game suspsension

Gambling in a league that's sponsored by multiple gambling groups...SUSPEND HIM HALF A SEASON!!!

The NHL wants YOU to have a gambling addiction for their revenue, but not their players because that's unhealthy and problematic...

Yep. I don't care what shit the NHL comes out with to try and justify this. They're in the wrong here. Either gambling is a perfectly legitimate enterprise or it's morally depraved and a breeding ground for corruption. In the latter case, you should be allowing them no association with your league.