Shocking reason for Jeff Marek firing by Sportsnet revealed
This morning, the Athletic reported that Jeff Marek has left Sportsnet quietly due to an investigation from the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Marek had come under scrutiny from the NHLduring the first round of the draft for allegedly revealing to a friend which players teams were drafting moments before those picks were publicly announced, according to league and media industry sources. The NHL shared concerns about the situation with the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which probed further, according to multiple sources briefed on that investigation.
There has been no information shared that Marek had placed bets with his draft knowledge, and the Gambling authority could not confirm that Marek himself was under investigation.
However, Marek does receive inside knowledge of draft picks moments before they happen, and is close friends with former NHL scout Mark Seidel, who correctly picked multiple draft picks on social media. Now, Seidel has deleted social media posts and may also be under investigation. In 2020, Seidel correctly posted the first 12 draft picks. Still, Marek himself is apparently not a fan of gambling.
However, because Marek was alleged to have shared proprietary information with someone outside the company, and given the company's partnership with the NHL � Sportsnet has two years left on a 12-year deal as the league's national rightsholder � the network was in a difficult position involving one of its most prominent broadcasters.
It's an extremely tough situation for Marek if this is the only reason he's departing Sportsnet. He did not place any bets himself, gain financially at all, or disseminate the information to the public - but he may have provided that information to Seidel, who may have broken some rules. The NHL has extremely strict gambling rules, and they will always move quickly to ensure the sanctity of the sport and the gambling companies' wallets.
Even after this incident, hopefully Marek lands on his feet elsewhere. By hockey fans and even others in the media, he's one of the favourites in the broadcasting landscape.
Source: The Athletic
Marek let go amid Gambling investigation
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