Massachusetts AG reviewing fantasy sports site DraftKings

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It says here that at this point there’s about as much of a chance of Congress closing the loophole that opened the floodgates to online sports betting as there is of Tom Brady showing up in Roger Goodell’s office with an air pump and an apology. But this year a dozen states – including California, where one lawmaker has made demands for strict new licensing and regulations – have considered legislation that would affect the online games.

While those in the fantasy sports industry utilize a carve out contained in the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, or Bradley Act, due in part to a 1991 opinion by Florida’s 33rd Attorney General Bob Butterworth that states that NFL fantasy leagues that offer cash prizes for fee-based contests based on performance of the respective teams is illegal gambling, leaves Florida’s legal situation unclear. Following suit, Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) President, Peter Schoenke said it’s, “important to establish a presence in Tallahassee and begin educating legislators about the dynamics of fantasy sports”, and this summer hired lobbyist Brian Ballard and his firm.

Legally, what UIGEA’s fantasy exemption does is kick the can down the road to the states. Pallone, a New Jersey Democrat who has advocated for legalized sports betting in his home state, wrote that the close involvement of professional sports teams and leagues “leaves many questioning whether fantasy sports are distinguishable from sports betting and other forms of gambling”.

Frankly (okay, pun intended), we’re kind of surprised to hear this kind of sour-grapes gesture emanating from NJ.

The goal is for casinos to attract as many people as they possibly can.

This isn’t just a problem with one individual writer, either. That’s all it took to scare these sites away: comments. Absolutely not, under existing federal law.

And Michigan isn’t the only state where DFS’ legality has been challenged.

This “unknown” legal standing reeks of gray market status.

Robins’ operation is definitely spending the advertising dollars: $80 million since August 1. No credit card required.

Honestly I feel bad for him. Quite frankly, I could have been anyone, of any age, and the DFS site I registered at would have happily approved my account. They enjoy the entertainment of going up against friends, family, co-workers and colleagues for bragging rights and, of course, the prospect of winning money.

Some of Pallone’s motivation in the fantasy sports hearing is about bringing attention to the issue of sports betting, as his state is in a court battle to allow wagering on sporting events.

Instead, it was about how players Reedy had drafted – including longtime Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, “which I’m not thrilled about, don’t really like him as a person, but he’s a great fantasy asset” – would perform versus the teams others in the competition had drafted.

Kansas’s law, passed earlier this year, seems less ambiguous when it comes to accepting DFS.

Should these sites be shut down for it?

“It’s just one of those things that, once you do it, and you’re already into fantasy sports, you will get hooked immediately”, says John Reedy, a sports fan from Denver. “It’s important that we as the commonwealth grasp it, enhance the technology and move with it”.