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Legalized sports wagering presents the greatest opportunity for the National Hockey League to grow its product since the expansion boom 25 years ago.
This might seem like hyperbole, given that more people likely wager on the coin toss at the Super Bowl than wager on professional hockey in a given season.
"We're about 1 percent of the book. Our game doesn't lend itself to gambling in the same way that football and basketball do," said commissioner Gary Bettman in 2016.
This has been true for decades. Simply put, hockey doesn't traditionally have enough events to entice widespread interest from gamblers.
Even in a season where scoring was at its highest levels league-wide since 2006, we're still talking about more 2-1 games than 7-6 games.
It's not a sport that lends itself to straight up point spreads. And let's face it: a novice bettor could develop a migraine if they're staring at a wall of money lines.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Trade grades: Sabres earn an 'A' in Skinner deal
The Sabres landed a scorer to play with Jack Eichel and didn't have to give up a first-round pick to do it. We grade both GMs.
Inside Chris Kreider's journey back to the ice
The 27-year-old missed nearly two months with blood clots. He offers detailed insight on his recovery, along with thoughts on the Rangers' future.
NHL Century Club: Which teams will get to 100 points?
No team with 100 points has ever missed the playoffs. We break down the path for every club -- and the chances of actually getting there.
The key, then, is to find ways in which hockey does lend itself to gambling, and that's what makes legalized sports wagering in the U.S.
so tantalizing: It brings us closer to mobile, in-game betting in real time that could revolutionize the way fans watch a hockey game.
Bets on which team or player scores the next goal. Bets on overtime. Bets on something as frequent as power play success.
The mind races thinking about these opportunities, and how they could attract new demographics to watch a game.
Legalized sports wagering presents the greatest opportunity for the National Hockey League to grow its product since the expansion boom 25 years ago.
This might seem like hyperbole, given that more people likely wager on the coin toss at the Super Bowl than wager on professional hockey in a given season.
"We're about 1 percent of the book. Our game doesn't lend itself to gambling in the same way that football and basketball do," said commissioner Gary Bettman in 2016.
This has been true for decades. Simply put, hockey doesn't traditionally have enough events to entice widespread interest from gamblers.
Even in a season where scoring was at its highest levels league-wide since 2006, we're still talking about more 2-1 games than 7-6 games.
It's not a sport that lends itself to straight up point spreads. And let's face it: a novice bettor could develop a migraine if they're staring at a wall of money lines.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Trade grades: Sabres earn an 'A' in Skinner deal
The Sabres landed a scorer to play with Jack Eichel and didn't have to give up a first-round pick to do it. We grade both GMs.
Inside Chris Kreider's journey back to the ice
The 27-year-old missed nearly two months with blood clots. He offers detailed insight on his recovery, along with thoughts on the Rangers' future.
NHL Century Club: Which teams will get to 100 points?
No team with 100 points has ever missed the playoffs. We break down the path for every club -- and the chances of actually getting there.
The key, then, is to find ways in which hockey does lend itself to gambling, and that's what makes legalized sports wagering in the U.S.
so tantalizing: It brings us closer to mobile, in-game betting in real time that could revolutionize the way fans watch a hockey game.
Bets on which team or player scores the next goal. Bets on overtime. Bets on something as frequent as power play success.
The mind races thinking about these opportunities, and how they could attract new demographics to watch a game.
