Gary Bettman defends NHL’s integrity as league eyes expanded oversight tools amid wider gambling scandals
Several gambling scandals have dominated headlines across the sports world in current weeks and months On Tuesday longtime NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman touched on the topic during a wide-ranging interview The league in the past few days struck a partnership with leading prediction field platforms Kalshi and Polymarket Bettman argued that the harmony between prediction markets and sports betting positions the NHL to have better oversight and ultimately more power to take down any contracts that we don t think are appropriate CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS COMWhile no current NHL players or coaches have been implicated in the new scandals that have rocked the NBA and MLB Bettman believes the top pro hockey league is positioned to avoid similar issues I don t believe our match is susceptible in the way that various others might be you can t really get away with that kind of cheating anymore Bettman advised CNBC In early November Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and All-Star pitcher Emmanuel Clase were the targets of the review and the two face charges in the alleged scheme The pitchers face charges of wire fraud wire fraud conspiracy conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering Both pitchers pleaded not guilty to the charges Also last month the NBA was rocked by a widespread betting inquiry Dozens of individuals with ties to the league including a current head coach were arrested on Oct Despite Bettman's assertion that the league he oversees is not as of now limited in its possible problematic gambling exposure a look back reveals the complicated history the league and betting share In Jaromir Jagr reflected on the decisions he made that led up to in betting losses through an online gambling site Jagr spent more than a quarter-century in the NHL playing for nine franchises He last appeared in an NHL event for the Calgary Flames during the - season Despite acknowledging he made missteps Jagr insisted he did not engage in illegal gambling activity It was and I made mistakes Jagr who played for the Washington Capitals at the time stated reporters I just wasn t smart It was stupid It wasn t illegal and it was five years ago Everything was taken care of in That s all I can tell you Several decades before Jagr ever took the ice Don Gallinger was at the center of a high-profile gambling outrage The NHL suspended Gallinger on an indefinite basis in after an analysis determined he placed wagers on Boston Bruins games Billy Taylor Gallinger's teammate at the time also faced punishment Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this overview Follow Fox News Digital s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter
