The latest on the news now here is that Gretzky has been in Vegas at some $25000 per hand Poker Tourney... even if they can't link him to the ring, they are trying to play it up as a big "gambling is bad" thing.
Personally, I see no problem on the bettors part if they were not betting on Hockey. Even if a few players were betting on NFL games, who cares? It's not against the law and it's not against the CBA. It's a totally different situation than Pete Rose who bet not only bet on his own sport, but also on his own team. If it turns out that the bettors were also betting on the NHL and/or their teams, that's a differnt thing to me.
That's the bettors though - the people placing the bets. The Bookies/Organizers are another beast. Tocchet is basically screwed - he's the one who broke the law by profiting off the betting and endorsing gambling. He is the bookie in essence and that part (being a bookie) IS what is against the law in the USA. He's looking at some big damage if/when everything shakes out...
So, for me, I look at it this way -
For the people who placed bets, it's embassaing but understandable. A large number of people bet with their friends on the superbowl in office pools and the like. Just kind of an embassassment to deal with... but if they bet on NHL games, well that's a no-no.
For the people who took the bets - Tocchet and pals - they are screwed. They are the ones who did the illegal part and they are the ones who have to deal with the aftermath...
As for Gretz, I'm sure he knew his wife was involved on some level but maybe not the extent of how much she was involved. Does that make him guilty? Not really. Can you blame him for trying to dust it off? No, it'd be most guys reaction to try to protect their wife in a situation like that...
