Gary Bettman: "Money Me, Money Now, Me A Money Needing A Lot Now"
TSN – NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the league wants a cut of gambling profits if its intellectual property, data or video from games are used. Bettman tells guest host Larry Lage in the in the latest episode of “PodcastOne Sports Now” those who want to conduct gambling business with NHL assets will need to negotiate.
“We’ve historically been opposed to extending sports betting on our game, and, emotionally, I don’t think that’s changed,” Bettman said. “However, it is a fact of life in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, and it’ll be up to states to decide whether or not they’re going to enact sports betting.
“From our standpoint, we believe that that whether it’s our intellectual property or data, whether it’s video of our game, we have important assets. And if somebody is going to avail themselves or want to avail themselves of those assets in order to conduct their business, then we’re going to need to have a negotiation.”
I mean… I get it. I don’t think this is just a Gary Bettman thing. I’m sure that Adam Silver and Roger Goodell are all thinking the same thing right now when it comes to gambling profits. But come on, Gary. You ol’ greedy bastard. You’re not fooling anybody. Don’t try to play coy with us, you little bitch. You’re not opposed to extending sports betting on your game. This is a gift which was wrapped by the hands of the sports gods themselves delivered straight to your door. All that’s happening now with the legalization of sports betting is that people are going to continue doing the exact same gambling on hockey they’ve been doing in the past, except now your greedy little paws gets a little cut of the action.
And not only will Bettman now be able to get his hands on a cut of gambling profits, but this also comes in the middle of an expansion period in the NHL. Last year the league brought in $500 million off the expansion fee for the Vegas Golden Knights. And now Seattle is in the expansion process, and the price for them has been set at $650 million. So in just a matter of years, the NHL is bringing in an extra $1.15 billion. And Gary Bettman is still gonna be nickel and diming everybody who wants to do any sort of gambling business with the league.
And like I said, this isn’t anything that’s unique to Gary Bettman. Adam Silver and the NBA just announced a 3-year, $25 million deal with MGM to be the official gambling sponsor of the league. So it’s Gary Bettman’s job to try to do the same thing for the NHL. But between the money being made from the expansion teams as well as the money that will be brought in from legalized sports gambling, Gary Bettman better have some big ass plans ready to roll out in the very near future.