The NHL and gambling

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
A buddy of mine always tells the story about the first time his Finnish brother-in-law came to the states he took him to TD Garden and the guy was all worked up because he couldn't find a betting window at the rink.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
My support for the right of people to fairly wager on athletic events is always soured by the reality that the system will be abused and it will not be fair. I'm very worried that bet money and bribes will affect the outcome of games in a significant way at some point (not any specific team or year, but soon). I worry what that will do to popularity of the sport, and whether that will damage the entertainment factor.

I hope to be proven wrong.
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,091
Tuukka's refugee camp
If you go in with that mindset you will never be proven wrong because you a presupposing something that will not happen until it actually happens.

Europe has had this for a while and, outside of lower leagues, it has never bubbled up into something major. And given the ease of gambling today via the Internet, this probably only constitutes a minor removal of friction for gambling access.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
Those are valid points and I want to acknowledge that with oversight and regulation (especially in the EU) the concerns over that type of activity have continually lessened and are a reason I have optimism that I will be wrong on this. Something like the investigation+prosecution of a violation would help convince me that the system is serious about stopping corruption, but I also acknowledge that not finding it does not mean that it exists and was not found.

That being said, the regularity with which major athletes are found to be in violation of tax laws makes me question if they are similarly flippant with the laws regarding corruption of sport. It doesn't mean they are though.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,537
In the simulacrum
I don't know the details, but gambling on hockey seems like a loser's game though. Too much variance. The puck luck is not for the faint of heart (or the rational bettor).
 

Myt1

educated, civility-loving ass
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 13, 2006
41,582
South Boston
I don't know the details, but gambling on hockey seems like a loser's game though. Too much variance. The puck luck is not for the faint of heart (or the rational bettor).
Over/under parlays when two good defensive teams or two fucking sieves play each other used to be my go-to. I had one absolutely absurd year using those to expand NFL and silly NBA moneyline parlays. It didn’t strike me as an efficient market because so few people bet it.