NHL Ends Inquiry into Shane Pinto with 41-Game Suspension, No Betting Evidence Found

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At the culmination of a comprehensive evaluation, the National Hockey League (NHL) has brought its investigation of Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto to a close this week, leading to a resounding 41-game suspension. Considered one of the longest punitive actions in hockey for off-ice activities, there was, however, no evidence that Pinto had gambled on NHL fixtures according to the league’s announcement on the matter last Thursday.

These events further underscore the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s significant action in 2018 that sanctioned legalised sports betting, thereby setting off an influx of alliances between sports leagues, sportsbooks, data service providers, and other pertinent authorities within the betting cosmos. In this rapidly evolving betting landscape, Shane Pinto marks the most recent professional athlete to face punitive repercussions tied to gambling activities.


For the uninitiated, the NHL observes a clear policy against gambling, encapsulated within a single statement within their collective bargaining agreement – “Gambling on any NHL game is prohibited.” These are common, albeit stringent, regulations among professional leagues worldwide, and potential alterations could be in offing pending the expiration of the existing agreement in 2026.

This raised questions about the scope and nuances of what can be construed as gambling, given the broad spectrum that encompasses from long-term to daily fantasy gaming options. NHL teams have even ventured to restrict employees, ranging from hockey operations to business side, from participating in fantasy leagues involving money.

In the specific case of Pinto, the league confirmed that he was clear of betting on NHL matches, with the duration of his suspension subtly underscoring this. It is widely speculated that Commissioner Gary Bettman would have imposed a harsher penalty had Pinto bet on league games. As a point of reference, within the NFL infrastructure, at least ten players have recently been suspended on account of gambling.

Just two years prior, allegations surfaced against player Evander Kane for betting on games, leading to an inquiry conducted by the NHL security in collaboration with law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler. Upon conclusion, there was no substantiation of the claim that Kane had either gambled on or tried to compromise any games.

It is quintessential to understand that comprehensive investigations are orchestrated to determine the betting activities of a player. The NHL maintains multiple partnerships with sportsbooks, enabling efficient data sharing, readily highlighting potential anomalies. As the league’s ‘integrity services provider,’ Sportradar, along with other organizations like Genius Sports and US Integrity, play a vital role in scrutinizing suspicious betting activity and delivering necessary disciplinary actions.

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