The NHL has handed a 41-game suspension to Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto, marking a historic moment as the first modern-day hockey player banned for involvement in sports gambling.
The 22-year-old American has been penalized for “activities relating to sports wagering.” The league clarified that its investigation found no evidence of Pinto betting on NHL games but did not disclose further details about the situation, including the nature of Pinto’s actions or how he came to be caught.
In response to the suspension, Pinto issued an apology, expressing his remorse and taking full responsibility for his actions. He also expressed his eagerness to return to the ice with his team. Pinto is not appealing the suspension, as an agreement was reached between the league, the player, and the NHL Players’ Association to resolve the matter. The NHL considers the case closed unless new information emerges.
The Ottawa Senators have expressed their support for Pinto, acknowledging his value to the team. They emphasized that he is a young, intelligent individual who made regrettable decisions. Pinto is expected to return to the ice in the middle of this season, contingent on him signing a contract. Currently, he is an unsigned restricted free agent, and this suspension sheds light on the reasons behind his unsigned status.
Shane Pinto’s suspension adds to a growing list of professional athletes who have faced penalties since the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for legalized sports wagering in 2018. Notably, several NFL players, including Calvin Ridley, received bans for gambling, with Ridley missing the entire 2022 season. While the NBA and Major League Baseball have not announced recent gambling punishments, the issue is becoming a growing concern in college sports.
The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players’ Association explicitly prohibits gambling on any NHL game. In some cases, NHL teams even prohibit their employees, from those involved in hockey operations to those on the business side, from participating in fantasy leagues for money.
The Ottawa Senators, in 2021, became the first NHL team to feature a gambling-related entity as a helmet sponsor, displaying the Betway logo on their home helmets. Two years ago, the league investigated Evander Kane for gambling allegations made by his estranged wife, which included claims of betting on NHL games, including those involving his own team. However, the investigation found no evidence to substantiate these allegations.
Before Shane Pinto, the last NHL players to be suspended for gambling were Billy Taylor, Don Gallinger, and Babe Pratt back in the 1940s.
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