Former Buffalo Sabres star Thomas Vanek says he is accused of no criminal activity in a federal gambling investigation, but he still may have to answer whether he wagered on sports through local men alleged to be bookmakers.

Vanek has been questioned by federal authorities in the local gambling case because his name showed up in wagering records seized during the inquiry, according to individuals familiar with the investigation. Sources say they do not suspect he bet on hockey.

What's unclear is whether the National Hockey League may have concerns about Vanek's alleged gambling. Requests for comment from NHL officials went unanswered Tuesday.

Amid revelations that Vanek has been questioned in the gambling inquiry, the hockey star who on July 1 signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Minnesota Wild was a hot topic in sports social media Tuesday.

A Google search under Vanek's name and "gambling" Tuesday yielded more than 8,000 results.

Vanek has been asked for assistance in the gambling-related investigation of Paul Borrelli, and Mark and Joseph Ruff, who were arrested by the FBI in June, sources say.

Authorities allege that the three accused men managed multiple offshore Internet gambling sites. Borrelli and Joseph Ruff allegedly took payments at the The Marina Restaurant & Bar in Charlotte. Authorities say the two men managed the restaurant, though their lawyers have said they had no role.

There have been no charges against individuals suspected of betting.

Illegal gambling can be a misdemeanor crime in New York, if the bettor profits. But it is rarely prosecuted.

"There's a whole series of things people could be charged with," said local lawyer Rick Geiger, whose practice partly focuses on gambling-related issues. "It's extremely rare. It's small potatoes."

Most gambling investigations — and even those are uncommon — tend to focus on illegal bookmaking.

"Representatives of the U.S. Federal Government have asked for my cooperation in an investigation," Vanek said in a statement Monday. "I am not the subject of any investigation or prosecution. I will fully cooperate with the U.S. Federal authorities in their investigation or in any proceedings arising out of it."

"We are aware of Thomas Vanek's cooperation with a federal investigation and have no further comment at this time," the Wild said in a statement.

Borrelli has a history of past book-making in the Rochester region, so it's unclear whether Vanek's alleged betting is recent.

"He is not going to be charged," Vanek's agent, Steve Bartlett of Pittsford-based Sports Consulting Group, said Monday. "He won't be charged with a crime because he hasn't done anything wrong."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Marangola, the prosecutor in the case, declined to comment, as did Barbara Burns, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Court papers portray The Marina as a hub for the alleged wagering operation. Even before the Rochester police and FBI raided The Marina in late June, the restaurant appeared to have financial issues.

The Marina had been affiliated with Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. as an E-Z Bet location for about three years, said Michael D. Kane, chief executive officer for Western OTB. Because The Marina owed in the neighborhood of $50,000 to Western OTB, officials severed ties and removed wagering terminals in mid-June, about two weeks before authorities made their raid.

At E-Z Bet locales, betting terminals are installed by OTB and horse races are shown on TVs in the bar or restaurant. Winning wagers can be cashed at the location.

There are 28 E-Z Bet partners maintained by Western OTB. Each is required to make weekly deposits to OTB from the money wagered on horse races. Over the past year, The Marina often was late making deposits, and the issues grew more serious in recent months. "It's the only (E-Z Bet location) we've had to essentially close for cause," Kane said.

State Liquor Authority records identify Dennis Fico as the owner of The Marina.

As recently as last summer, former Amerks and Sabres defenseman Nathan Paetsch had identified himself as a part-owner of The Marina. Paetsch and Vanek were teammates with the Amerks in 2004-05 and then with the Sabres from 2006-07 into the 2009-10 season. Paetsch won the AHL's Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2012-13 and spent part of his "Day with the Cup" at the Marina last July.

Public records, however, do not mention Paetsch as an owner of the restaurant.

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