NHL Player Shane Pinto Suspended 41 Games for Gambling

NHL player Shane Pinto has been suspended 41 games by the NHL for gambling violations, the league announced on Thursday.

Pinto is the first player in NHL history to be suspended for violation of the league's gambling policy.

In its statement, the NHL announced it found no evidence Pinto had gambled on NHL games. Betting on NHL games is a violation that could lead to expulsion from the league, according to a memo sent in 2022 from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

The NHL's statement read in full:

The National Hockey League announced today that it has suspended NHL Player Shane Pinto for 41 games for activities related to sports wagering.

The League's investigation found no evidence that Pinto made any wagers on NHL games.

The NHL considers this matter closed, absent the emergence of new information, and will have no further comment.

The suspension was first reported by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet Canada.

Pinto, who is currently a restricted free agent, remains unsigned as he and the Ottawa Senators have been negotiating his contract. According to Friedman, Pinto's suspension is not dependent on him signing a contract.

The 22-year-old was the 32nd pick in the 2019 NHL Draft for the Senators and was sixth on the team in goals scored last season.

The news comes amid a rise in gambling-related violations involving athletes across all sports. Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali was also banned for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation for sports betting violations Thursday. And athletes in the NCAA and NFL have been caught up in betting scandals throughout the summer that involved them betting on their own sport, and in some cases betting on their own team.

We'll have more as the story develops.