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Thomas Vanek Could Owe $10 Million In Gambling Debts

By Catherine Silverman

Nov 16, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Thomas Vanek (26) looks on during the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Jets 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Thomas Vanek (26) looks on during the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Jets 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Minnesota Wild forward most definitely owes some gambling debts — it’s a matter of how much

No one is arguing that Minnesota Wild forward Thomas Vanek — who previously played for the Rochester Americans, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Islanders — owes some serious pocket change for his gambling losses.

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The forward, who has come out and admitted that he stopped gambling, owes anywhere from $1 to $10 million in gambling losses. It all depends on the source you choose to believe; while Vanek’s agent insists the losses are more in the ballpark of $1-2 million, bookie Joseph Ruff suggests they’re closer to the upper range ceiling.

Luckily, Vanek isn’t in any legal trouble for it — that we know of.

According to the FBI press release published on June 25, 2014, Ruff is one of three sports wagering bookies who has been indicted with extortion and money laundering — although Vanek was initially a person of interest in the case, it seems that the money he was seen paying to Ruff earlier in the year was simply a down payment on the debts he has accrued.

Vanek’s involvement in the case is far from over, though; according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Ruff has admitted that Vanek is the wagerer he targeted in the extortion scheme. Per the Chronicle:

"Vanek was never threatened with any physical harm, Parrinello said. Instead, Ruff lied to Vanek and said that he — Ruff — would be hurt if he didn’t collect some money toward what Vanek owed.“According to the law, was it extortion?” Parrinello said. “Yes.”"

Vanek’s involvement was splashed across sports headlines everywhere when he endorsed a check for $230,000, paid to him by the New York Islanders, and gave it to Ruff as a payment towards his negative wagering balance.

No claims were made to suggest that Vanek ever bet on hockey games — from what has been presented in the case, the skater only ever bet on football. After testifying in front of a federal judge regarding the case, Vanek’s agent has spoken out in his defense, saying he is sick of the criminal process and ‘probably will never bet a dollar again’.

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