While the NHL investigates the gambling allegations against San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane, now would probably be a good time for the league — actually, all leagues — to investigate their own gambling policies and to take a gander at how they handle the matter of betting on sports amongst their players, coaches, and personnel.해외 스포츠배팅
In very broad strokes, the NHL, MLB, NBA, PGA, and NFL all have pretty much the same policy: Don’t bet on your own sport, don’t bet with an illegal bookmaker, and don’t you dare bet on or against your team or give out actionable information. And that’s pretty much it. Sure, there are variations on the theme, but overall, that’s the message.
And in the Old Times — you know, pre-PASPA — this was probably good enough. Betting on sports involved physically being in Las Vegas, and if you wanted to do it illegally, it meant doing it offshore or with a bookie. Channels to get down a wager were limited and required a bit more effort to cross.
Today, though? Well, as we all well know, sports betting has exploded post-PASPA, with 22 states (including Washington, D.C.) up and running in some fashion, another 10 states where it’s legalized and awaiting further action by regulators and/or legislatures, and 10 others where it’s possible or likely that legislative action will happen this or next year.
Legalized sports betting is real, and it’s spectacular. And with it comes even more temptation. Today, athletes are just like us: All you need to do is download an app and you’re able to place a bet.
99 problems and integrity is number one
OK, it’s obviously too soon to make any rash judgments or determinations about the Kane situation. Let’s just go ahead and presume he’s innocent. Or let’s presume he’s guilty. It doesn’t matter, really. Why? Because either way, it shines a white-hot light on the intersection of legalized sports betting and the temptation athletes — who are still human, last I checked — face.
To be clear: I am not, in any way, saying Kane is guilty of what his estranged wife accused him of via Instagram, namely, doing his best to throw games last year as a member of the San Jose Sharks (even though it’s near-impossible for a winger to throw a game all by his lonesome). I obviously have no idea if he’s guilty or innocent. That’s up to the NHL to figure out. But obviously, if the allegations do check out, it’s the biggest sports gambling scandal post-PASPA.
But again: It almost doesn’t matter. This woeful tale should serve as a screaming klaxon warning to not only the players of America’s sports, but also the leagues.스포츠배팅 언더오버
Every commissioner always says the same thing when it comes to sports betting: The integrity of the league is paramount. And while that has become a cliche, it doesn’t make it any less true. A post-PASPA betting scandal of the kind under investigation here would be disastrous not only for the league where it happens, but also for the sports betting world at large.
And now that the leagues are in bed — and tucked in, and snuggling — with the sportsbook operators, it’s clearly time for enhanced rules and regulations concerning what an athlete can and cannot do when it comes to sports betting.
And at the risk of completely Karen-ing out here, allow me to make a trio of modest proposals.
Blanket ban
All the major sports leagues prohibit players from betting on games in their own sport. This was highlighted back in 2019 when Arizona Cardinals defensive back Josh Shaw became the first NFL player to be suspended from the league for gambling in over two decades.
He placed bets on NFL action at Caesars in Las Vegas while he was out with an injury. It’s possible he had no idea he was breaking league rules, as he put “professional football player” as his form of employment when he was filling out his Caesars account.
But here’s the rub: Each of the major pro U.S. leagues allow players to wager on other leagues’ games. So Shaw could’ve bet on the NHL or the MLB or any other sport, and all would have been OK.
But you know what’s interesting about the NFL, separate from the other big leagues? All NFL personnel except players are banned from sports betting, full stop. You’re the towel boy? No betting for you. You’re the vice president of ticket sales? No betting for you. Security guard or the owner of the team? No betting for you.
Call me crazy, but this seems like a prudent example of how pro players across all sports should behave. If you don’t bet on sports, you don’t risk finding yourself in a Kane-like — or worse — situation.
This may just reek of common sense, but really: There is zero reason for pro athletes to be betting on games. Play poker or something. Or just do this:
