Is it legal to bet on the 2024 NHL Draft in Vegas?
Published:
Jun 25, 2024
This week’s 2024 NHL Draft is being held at the “Sphere” in Las Vegas, making it the first event to be televised live from the jaw-dropping, globe-shaped arena. The NHL is also the first sports league to host an event at the $2.8 billion, 18,600-seat Sphere, although others seem likely to follow. With the draft taking place in the historical home of gambling and sports betting - Las Vegas - there will likely be many questions about betting on the event.
Who can bet on the 2024 NHL Draft?
Where are you located?
The ability to legally wager on the 2024 NHL Draft depends first on where you are. There are 38 states in the country with some form of sports betting, whether it be online/mobile or in-person. Of those 38 locations, 30 have online/mobile sports betting, which are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wyoming.
That leaves eight other states where only in-person retail sports betting is available: Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin.
However, it’s important to note that not all states that offer legalized sports betting allow betting on professional league drafts, like the 2024 NHL Draft. The states with the largest betting handles that prohibit wagering on drafts are New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. New York does not allow for these betting markets because it “does not fit into the definition of sports wagering as defined by statute.” The full list of states that are expected to not allow 2024 NHL Draft odds include: Connecticut, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
As you can deduce, there are also 12 states in which sports betting is not legal, which means betting on the NHL Draft is not available. Those states are California, Texas, Idaho, Utah, Minnesota, Missouri, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Alaska and Hawaii.
How old are you?
Beyond ensuring that you are in a legal location, there is also an age factor to consider for wagering on the 2024 NHL Draft. That is primarily 21 years old, but not quite a generalization we can make for all locations.
There are some jurisdictions in which the age requirement is 18+ years old, which are Kentucky, Montana, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming. While that is the case, it is important to note that individual sportsbooks within those locations can still have a 21-year-old requirement. Similarly, you must abide by each location’s age requirement, so an 18-year-old from one of those locations listed above cannot bet in places where the age requirement is 21+ years old.
NHL and Sports Betting: From staunch opposition to embracing
The NHL’s opposition to legalized sports betting
It wasn’t long ago that Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the NHL, was one of the most outspoken figures against sports betting. It was in 2012 that Bettman stated that the NHL was a place that was “inconsistent with sports betting,” as the integrity of the game is everything.
That hits home more than ever nowadays, as we have had several scandals across multiple leagues in 2024 alone, most notably the NBA and MLB. However, there’s no denying that the sports betting landscape has changed, which has led to more and more states legalizing sports betting both online and in-person.
Before this landscape change, Bettman even wrote letters to the Supreme Court in opposition to the legalization of sports betting, but ultimately, those efforts were futile. Even still, the increasing availability makes it more important than ever to do so responsibly.
NHL embraces sports gambling
As with many things, as times change, people and associations are forced to change alongside them. That includes the NHL, which has partnered with BetMGM and other sportsbooks in the years since PASPA’s repeal. It can be argued that it has also helped engagement with the sport, and one of Bettman’s most notable statements was “from a league standpoint, we think sports betting will increase viewership, which will be good for rights fees and advertising revenue.”
Another one of the most significant signals that the NHL has embraced sports betting is their addition of a team in Las Vegas with the Vegas Golden Knights, who won a Stanley Cup just a few years into their existence in 2023.
Betting on the NHL Draft responsibly
Betting on sports must always be done responsibly, and events like the NHL Draft make it even more important to do so. That’s because it is an event driven by information and speculation more than actual games. Therefore, we’ve shared some ways on how to wager on it with a level-headed approach.
Set limits: Provide yourself with a predetermined bankroll that is an amount you are comfortable using as entertainment funds. From there, decide upon a percentage of that amount, generally around 1-4%, to use as a standard bet amount on individual wagers.
Don’t chase losses: No one enjoys the feeling of losing, but that only becomes worse when bettors try to chase losses by placing extra bets to try to win back what was lost. This can lead to a compounding effect and a rapidly diminishing bankroll.
View it as entertainment: As previously mentioned, the amount you set aside should be viewed as funds that you are comfortable using for entertainment. Just like going out to a sporting event, these should not be viewed as money that you are using to generate income.
Don’t gamble under the influence: Like many things, sports betting under the influence of drugs or alcohol will often lead to a negative outcome. Decision-making will likely be impaired, and sports betting is difficult enough when being done with a clear mind.
Gambling Addiction Resources & Treatment
Speaking of negative experiences, Problem Gambling continues to be an increasingly significant issue across the country. Therefore, specialized treatment providers like Birches Health are here to help. With licensed professionals that are available online, patients can get the help they need around their schedule and from the comfort of their own environment.
Sources:
NHL’s Gary Bettman goes from betting opponent to advocate
The NHL’s Gary Bettman was a sports gambling skeptic. Now he’s a convert. - The Washington Post
Gary Bettman: Embracing Gambling About Evolving With The Times
