The National Hockey League will not block Nevada’s sport books from offering action on the league’s newest franchise, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, when their maiden season commences next month.
The league had 30 days prior to the start of the season to ask the books to keep the team off their boards but declined to do so, according to an ESPN report. That means the games will be in play for bettors in the state’s casinos and via phone for spectators at the team’s home ice at the T-Mobile Arena on the Strip.
The Knights face off against the Dallas Stars on October 6.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the league has discussed the issue with the team and with MGM Resorts International, which owns the arena, and “there may be some steps done in respect to that, but we didn’t feel like it was an appropriate time to make the global request”.
In the past, Commissioner Gary Bettman has spoken out against single-game betting. The NHL also has told Canadian officials that team owners oppose it. The league also has joined the NFL, the NBA and the NCAA in legal action to prevent New Jersey from legalizing sports betting. That case is scheduled to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court this fall.
