The NHL is all-in on sports betting

The league’s multiyear partnership with MGM Resorts International, announced Monday, will create new revenue streams for the NHL by capitalizing on the Supreme Court’s decision this year to strike down a federal law that prohibited states from legalizing sports gambling.

The NHL will share tracking data it collects, which “will allow MGM Resorts to provide its customers with specialized NHL game insights, as well as unlocking new and innovative interactive fan engagement and betting opportunities for its U.S. customers wherever legally available,” according to an NHL news release.

The league, however, won’t get a cut of the gambling profits. MGM Resorts International, a backer of T-Mobile Arena — home of the Vegas Golden Knights — reached a similar agreement with the NBA and WNBA in July.

One curious aspect of the NHL’s plunge into sports betting is that it won’t require teams to stop being vague or deceptive about players’ injuries. Information on injuries can be valuable to bettors and is provided by the other major professional sports leagues.

“Our players tend to play hurt and I’m not sure that we have any interest in changing our reports,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said at a news conference. “We’re comfortable with the way things are because it’s important for the well-being of our players.”