With online gambling being legalized in several U.S states and Canadian provinces over the past few years, many hockey fans are taking advantage of it and wagering on NHL games. However the league needs to maintain its integrity and make sure none of its players are involved in betting on NHL contests in any way, shape or form.
I will explain the league’s betting policy in this article and look at players who have been found guilty of violating it, including the most recent case Shane Pinto.
What are the NHL Gambling Rules?
The NHL prohibits any of its players from betting on NHL games, and most teams also typically ban their employees from joining any type of hockey fantasy leagues if they offer monetary rewards.
Where are the Gambling Rules Listed for NHL Players?
The NHL rules on gambling can be found in the NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that the league signed with the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA).
The only mention of gambling in the CBA states “Gambling on any NHL game is prohibited.”
This can be found under the “Standard Club Rules” of the CBA and the notice is also visible in every NHL dressing room in the league.
The section regarding gambling will likely be expanded in 2026 when the current agreement expires. Therefore according to the CBA, players are allowed to make wagers on other sports leagues such as the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), and the National Football League (NFL) etc.
Why Can’t NHL Players Bet on NHL Hockey Games?
1. Match-fixing and Game Manipulation
It’s believed that all professional sports leagues across the world ban their players from betting on games which take place in their own league. This is due to the fact that a player could somehow attempt to manipulate the outcome of a contest in order to win a wager.
This is basically known as match-influencing or match-fixing as it attempts to change the outcome of a specific area of the game, including the final score or which team wins the contest. Sports leagues such as the NHL ban players from betting on their own league to make sure the outcome of their games are trustworthy, unpredictable and completely above board.
2. Unfair Inside Information
Since NHL players have access to private inside information such as injuries, illnesses, strategies, and locker room dynamics they have an unfair advantage when it comes to betting on league games.
For example, a player may feel his team is unlikely to perform well in an upcoming game as half a dozen of the team’s top players are suffering from flu-like symptoms and several others are playing below 100 per cent because of nagging injuries. Anybody with this type of inside information would be tempted to wager on the opposing team because of it.
3. Potential for Blackmail and Coercion
If NHL players could bet on their games it could lead to unsavoury outside activities such as blackmail and coercion, especially if the players are in debt due to gambling. Players could be tempted to play poorly or take penalties to alter the outcome of a game in return for paying off their debts.
4. Public Perception
If the NHL allowed its players to bet on league games it would simply lose the trust of its fans as well as the league’s integrity. Fans could come to believe that the outcome of certain contests are being manipulated for the personal monetary gain of those who are wagering on them.
This would quickly tarnish the league’s image as its reputation and credibility would become almost non-existent.
Can NHL Players Gamble on Pro Hockey Games Outside of the NHL?
Due to the wording of the current CBA there’s no official rule against betting on any other hockey league in the world. It’s more or less looked upon as an unwritten rule though, and players are generally expected to avoid wagering on the sport in general.
Can NHL Players Bet on Other Pro Sports?
Again, going by the current CBA, NHL players are officially allowed to wager on any other pro sports league since they don’t have any influence on the outcome of the games.
NHL Suspends Shane Pinto for 41 Games for Gambling (2023)
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
The most recent case of an NHL player being punished for gambling involves unsigned restricted free agent Shane Pinto of the Ottawa Senators. The 22-year-old forward was hit with a 41-game suspension (half of the 82-game season) on October 26th, 2023 for what the NHL stated as “activities related to sports wagering”.
It is the first gambling-related suspension in the league since 1947/48 when Don Gallinger of the Boston Bruins and Billy “The Kid” Taylor of the New York Rangers were banned.
Pinto, who hails from Franklin Square, New York, was drafted 32nd overall by the Senators in the 2019 NHL Draft and scored 20 goals and 15 assists for 35 points in 82 games as a rookie in 2022/23.
The NHL reportedly received information before the 2023/24 season began from a sports-gambling site that there was unusual activity on Pinto’s account, and it was flagged. The league said the matter was investigated but it found no proof that Pinto wagered on any NHL games and added that the incident was now closed.
This led fans to rightly ask why Pinto was suspended then if he didn’t bet on any NHL games?
However, if Pinto or anybody else gives access to their personal betting account and password and allows other people to wager under his name it’s known as betting by proxy (third-party betting), and this isn’t allowed. In fact, if Pinto was found to have wagered on NHL games, it’s almost certain he would have received a much longer suspension.
Since the NHL is partnered with several legalized sports-gambling establishments the sharing of information and data, such as a specific person’s account, is quite easy to do as it’s closely monitored.
In this case Pinto’s account was red-flagged due to what the site considered to be unusual betting activity, such as wagers being made from an unrestricted location while Pinto was in another location with his team.
Can Pinto return to the NHL? If so, when?
Pinto, who hadn’t played a game this season because he was unsigned, is eligible to return to the league on January 21st, 2024 against the Philadelphia Flyers, if the Senators re-sign him. He isn’t allowed to practice with the team or visit its home arena until 10 days before the suspension expires.
Pinto and the NHLPA fully accepted the suspension and the player released a statement regarding the matter which said,
“I want to apologize to the National Hockey League, the Ottawa Senators, my teammates, the fans and city of Ottawa and most importantly my family. I take full responsibility for my actions and look forward to getting back on the ice with my team.” – Shane Pinto
The NHL delivered a memo to all clubs in March 2022 and warned them that any betting violations would be quickly dealt with. The message stated that league Commissioner Gary Bettman had the power to “discipline individuals determined to have engaged in improper gambling activities” and the punishment for doing so could include “expulsion of suspension for a definite or indefinite period” or “cancelling any contract” or by “imposing a fine”.
Evander Kane’s Betting Allegations in 2021
🚨 BREAKING:
NHL announces full investigation into allegations that Evander Kane of the San Jose Sharks has been betting on his own games with bookies.
The allegations came from an Instagram account purporting to be his wife, Anna Kane. pic.twitter.com/vibeZib6Uw
— Dan Lust, Esq. 🎙 (@SportsLawLust) July 31, 2021
In 2021, a firm named Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler and the NHL investigated forward Evander Kane of the San Jose Sharks after the player’s estranged wife claimed that he wagered on NHL games including those involving his own team.
However Kane, who now plays with the Edmonton Oilers and had a history of gambling, denied the allegations, and no evidence was found.
In April, 2019 Kane owed a $500,000 casino marker from The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas and failed to pay it. The Cosmopolitan then filed a complaint seven months later but dropped the case in 2020.
In January, 2021 the player filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and claimed that he lost $1.5 million through legal gambling during a 12-month span. However several casino bookmakers stated that he never bet on hockey games with them.
Historical Ice Hockey Gambling/Wagering Suspenions
Walter “Babe” Pratt 1946 Betting Suspension
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Walter “Babe” Pratt was suspended for nine games in 1946 after admitting to betting on NHL games that didn’t involve the Leafs.
He was originally suspended for life by league president Clarence Campbell, but it was later reduced, and Pratt eventually ended up in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Billy Taylor and Don Gallinger Lifetime Bans from the NHL 1947/48
In 1947/48, Billy Taylor and Don Gallinger received lifetime bans for betting on their team’s games with these suspensions being rescinded in 1970.
Rick Tocchet Assistant Coach 2007
Also, in 2007, Rick Tocchet who was an assistant coach with the Arizona Coyotes at the time and is currently the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, was placed on probation for two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy as well as promoting gambling. This came after an undercover police investigation, which was named “Operation Slapshot”.
Final Thoughts
It should be noted that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission in Ontario, Canada, has banned sports gambling sites from using celebrities and athletes such as Wayne Gretzky and Connor McDavid from promoting their services via advertisements. This law will take effect in February 2024.
The NHLPA offers its players an assistance program that includes a hotline for them to confidentially contact counselors regarding off-ice problems, including gambling addiction and substance abuse and so on.
Gambling within the NHL is strictly prohibited. Players, coaches, and staff are forbidden from placing wagers on NHL games to ensure the league maintains its integrity, fairness, and public trust. Violations can lead to severe penalties, as demonstrated by recent suspensions. The NHL’s stance is clear: Betting on its games is off-limits and so are the related activities.
Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.