Ottawa’s Senator Centre Shane Pinto has been suspended for 41 hockey games after the NHL completed their investigation into his Sports wagering activities.
The league said Thursday that the investigation found no evidence Pinto bet on NHL games.
NHL Policy on Gambling is “Gambling on any NHL game is prohibited.”
Commissioner Gary Bettman gave Pinto only a half-season length ban because he did not violate the NHL betting policy.
Two years ago, NHL security and the firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler looked into allegations that Evander Kane bet on games, including against his team; the investigators found no evidence of the allegations.
Pinto is the first NHL player to be suspended for gambling since the 1940s.
Boston players Don Gallinger and Billy Taylor were banned in 1948 for betting on the Bruins and reinstated in 1970.
Walter Pratt was banned for nine games for betting on games, but he wound up in the Hall of Fame.
Since the legalization of sports betting in the United States, the NHL could sell data to sportsbooks.
In selling data to legal sportsbooks, there could be an obligation to cooperate with investigations and hand over records beyond privacy laws that are stricter in Europe than in North America.
When asked about the topic in 2021 when the allegations of Kane surfaced, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said NHL officials “have a number of third-party resources that we regularly employ to monitor betting activities on our games.”
“Shane is a valued member of our hockey club; an engaging, intelligent young man who made poor decisions that have resulted in a suspension by the National Hockey League. We know he is remorseful for his mistakes. The Ottawa Senators fully support the NHL’s rules on gambling,” said the Senators in a statement.
“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 the support to allow him to address his issues and become a strong contributor to our community,” the team said.
