NHL Gambling Ring Busted

[2+2 wannabe]

Story here

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Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet is accused of financing a U.S. sports gambling ring in which about a half-dozen current NHL players placed bets, authorities said Tuesday.

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They didn't bet on the NHL for what it's worth - is "illegal" gambling in the States that big of a deal? Rick Tocchet was a quite popular NHL player before becoming an assistant coach by the way (not a no-name by any means).

[HDPM]

beat me to it by a second. The thing is that the gambling ring was reported to be connected to organized crime. Athletes gambling is a big deal. because they might go into debt. Once they go into debt to these guys...

[Wes Mantooth]

illegal gambling + based in New Jersey... yeah definately organized crime.

Good job Tocchet!

[IggyWH]

I think it's the same deal when you heard people bitching about Arod playing poker. Any kind of pro athlete gambling is frowned upon. Maybe they just see it as a gateway to betting on your team? Who knows...

[J.R.]

They didn't bet on the NHL for what it's worth - is "illegal" gambling in the States that big of a deal?

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Yes, The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970 and the Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1970 are federal laws designed to punish organized crime which also apply gambling rings and carry lareg sentences. Tocchet could be in a lot of trouble.

[youtalkfunny]

A longtime bookmaker myself (the legal kind), I've always kept an eye out for stories such as these.

And every one of them, without exception, includes the words "Organized Crime".

If I operate out of my house, and book 100% of the action, and take 99.9% of the calls--but pay somebody to work the phones one day so I can have a day off--we just engaged in an "Organized" crime. I guess any crime that involves more than one perpetrator is "organized".

[derosnec]

Maybe the feds should go after ESPN and CBS for fantasy football sites that pay money to the winners. And go after the participants too: you know, since there were two people on my team (me and my friend) and he drafted the players for our team on his computer and the first week I created the starting lineup.

[highlife]

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A longtime bookmaker myself (the legal kind), I've always kept an eye out for stories such as these.

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how are you a legal bookmaker?

[lapoker17]

wow - i hadn't seem tocchet since he nixed the mullet. he looks 100% jersey mob in that photo. that suit/tie combo is ridiculous.

[SMB]

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A longtime bookmaker myself (the legal kind), I've always kept an eye out for stories such as these.

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how are you a legal bookmaker?

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I'm guessing Vegas + sportsbook