Anti-DFS bill resurfaces in Illinois

Anti-DFS bill resurfaces in Illinois

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) websites are in for a final fright before November ends after a bill, which aims to make their operations in Illinois, has surfaced.

Anti-DFS bill resurfaces in IllinoisAccording to Legal Sports Report, the anti-DFS bill, penned by Rep. Scott Drury, has finally been assigned to a committee after sitting idly for months.

Drury’s H 6586 provides that a person “commits gambling ehen he or she knowingly establishes, maintains, operates, or offers an Internet site, smartphone application, or orher similar electronic or digital media or communication technology that permits a person to play a game or skill for money or other thing value by means of the Internet, smarphone application, or other similar electronic or digital media or communication technology, or to make a wager upon the result of any game, contest, political nomination, appointment,  or election by means of the internet, smartphone application, or other electronic or digital media or communication technology, or knowingly establishes, maintains, or operates a fantasy sports contest that permits a person to play the contest for money or other thing of value.”

If the proposed bill becomes a law, DFS operators in Illinois maybe charged with misdemeanor for first offense and a felony on a second offense.

The good news for DFS operators is that Drury’s bill has little chance of passing this year given the short time remaining on the legislative calendar.

The report said that the Congress will only be meeting two out of the seven days this week.

There’s also an indication that the Bill lacks support for it to move forward. The hearing of the bill has yet to be scheduled or be noted in the committee it was assigned to.

Meanwhile, a pro-DFS bill in Illinois is set to see action early next year and will compete with Drury’s bill.

“My goal will be to get the bill to a vote in January,” Rep. Michael Zalewski told the news website. “That would be my hope.”