Texas may join the growing number of states declaring Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) gambling as Attorney General Ken Paxton declares his belief that websites like FanDuel and DraftKings enable people to illegally gamble. Perhaps this news shouldn’t be surprising considering that even Nevada has declared that DFS sites are gambling websites, so should Florida treat them that way too?
Will Florida’s Gaming Committee Solve Daily Fantasy Sports Problems?
A new bill intended to regulate how DFS works in the state of Florida has just passed voting in the Business & Professions Subcommittee—the body that governs gambling in our state—and must now pass scrutiny in the House Regulatory Affairs Committee. HB 707 would enforce civil penalties, create a system for annual audits, set up age restrictions, and make it illegal for DFS employees or their relatives to participate in playing for cash prizes.
The bill passed with a 10-3 majority in the Business & Professions Subcommittee, but it might find more opponents than supporters in the next vote. Representative Joseph Geller expressed the opinion that this bill doesn’t go far enough, a sentiment that other representatives seem to share. Members of the small yet tightly regulated Florida gaming community are also skeptical of the bill.
Lobbyists for gambling in Florida have already made it clear that they think DFS is gambling and should be regulated as such, and the Seminole tribe has also declared online daily fantasy sports gambling as it tries to influence Florida lawmakers. These organizations seem to be a part of a growing trend that includes Nevada, New York and now Texas. Should Florida be the next state to declare DFS gambling?
There have already been claims of cheating against DFS sites FanDuel and DraftKings, and Colson Hicks Eidson is standing with cheated consumers by filing a class action complaint. So keep following our blog, Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on what our state is doing to protect you from the abuses of daily fantasy sports.