San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane has denied claims by his wife that he bet on NHL games and tried to throw games in which he played. The couple is in the midst of acrimonious divorce proceedings.
In an Instagram post, Anna Kane wrote, “How does the NHL let a compulsive gambling addict still play when he’s obviously throwing games to win money? Hmm maybe someone needs to address this.”
She added: “Can someone ask (Commissioner) Gary Bettman how they let a player gamble on his own games? Bet and win with bookies on his own games?”
In all-caps outrage, Kane responded on Twitter, “I have NEVER gambled/bet on Hockey, NEVER gambled/bet on a Sharks game, NEVER gambled/bet on any of my games and NEVER thrown a hockey game.”
Kane continued, “I love the game of hockey and would never do any of what was alleged. I look forward to cooperating fully with the league’s investigation, having my name cleared and looking forward to this upcoming season.”
The NHL plans to conduct a full investigation, saying, “The integrity of our game is paramount and the league takes these allegations very seriously.”
A team spokesman told the Associated Press that the Sharks “support a full and transparent investigation into the situation to maintain the integrity of the game and consistency with our team values.”
Kane is a known gambler. In 2019, he was sued by the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas when he allegedly failed to pay a $500,000 marker incurred during a playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights. The suit was later dropped.
According to ESPN, in January Kane filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, claiming to have lost $1.5 million gambling “at casino and via bookie” over a 12-month period. According to Cap Friendly, Kane has lifetime earnings in the NHL of just under $56 million. He’s three years into a $49 million contract with the Sharks, with $26 million to go.
ESPN reached out to players who knew Kane or were his teammates. None said they ever heard him mention betting on hockey. Said one: “Did he like to gamble? Sure. I just don’t believe he was actually betting on hockey games.” A former teammate said Kane wagered on football and basketball, but “I never once heard him say he bet on hockey.”
Another NHL player said, “I’ve known guys that are big bettors, but I don’t think I ever heard of them wagering on hockey.”
In 2016, Bettman said hockey “doesn’t lend itself to gambling in the same way football and basketball do” and expressed concerns about gambling’s impact on the “family friendly” environment of NHL games. Three years later, after the overthrow of PASPA, Bettman sang a different tune.
“I owed it to our fans, I owed it to our clubs, to embrace the evolving world, whether it’s sports betting or changes in technology,” he said. “In this day and age, you either evolve or become extinct.”
In an op-ed piece on the website ProFootballTalk.com, Mike Florio wrote, “The ongoing spread of legalized gambling increases the pressure on all sports to ensure that its players don’t rack up big debts and in turn, strike deals with gamblers that could entail efforts to control the outcome of a game. Although it’s seemingly difficult for one player in a hockey game to make much of a difference, the NHL needs to take this very seriously.”
Three types of punishment can be imposed on a player who is found to have gambled on his own sport or team: a fine of up to $10,000 for a first-time offender; the cancelation of the player’s contract; or suspension “for a definite or indefinite period” from the NHL.
