Another state is joining the daily fantasy sports regulation fray.
The issue of curtailing, regulating or banning pay-for-play fantasy sports leagues is being handled differently in each state. So far, there are at least eight states in which league operators are either outlawed or have pulled out over questions of legality.
Colorado, which is home to an estimated 800,000 fantasy sports players, has no specific restrictions over fantasy sports. Until last week, that is.
Lawmakers in Colorado introduced a bill that seeks to create a “Colorado Office of Fantasy Sports,” which will draft regulations that will make sure fantasy sports games are “played fair and square and not as a front for illegal gambling,” The Denver Post reported.
The Colorado House Bill 1404 requires operators to “undergo licensing and background checks,” while gamers must be at least 18 years old to play. Violators could either have their state license confiscated or ordered to pay fines of up to $1,000 per violation, according to the report.
One of the bill’s sponsors, House Democratic leader Crisanta Duran, said the goal is to “codify important industrywide standards” and solve the lack of oversight over fantasy sports sites, including DraftKings and Fanduel.
“Enacting this important legislation will ensure that all providers are taking the necessary steps to protect fantasy sports fans, and will give consumers peace of mind about the integrity of the games they love,” Duran said, according to the news outlet.
News of the bill was welcomed by Fantasy Trade Sports Association chairman Peter Schoenke, who lauded the Colorado lawmakers for finally “doing something the industry supports.”
Colorado joins the nearly 30 legislatures who are considering to ban, regulate or allow daily fantasy sports. Recently in Arizona, state lawmakers are moving to spell out that fantasy sports leagues are legal even though it is illegal under the current Arizona law to wager money in any game or contest of chance or skill, including betting on the outcome of a future event, according to Florida Politics.
