Congressman calls for federal hearing on daily fantasy sports

The phenomenal popularity (and big money) associated with daily fantasy sports continued to attract political attention Monday when Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., a Democrat from New Jersey and a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, proposed that a congressional hearing be convened to examine the relationship between fantasy sports and gambling and evaluate the legal status of daily fantasy sports.

His request comes after the inaugural weekend of this year’s NFL season, when DFS football advertisements reached saturation point, overwhelming even the expensive car and beer adverts.

Rep. Pallone suggested that the hearing should include an examination of the difference between gambling on sports (presently controlled and restricted by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) and playing fantasy sports, along with the close ties between national sports leagues and teams and the fantasy industry.

“Anyone who watched a game this weekend was inundated by commercials for fantasy sports Web sites, and it’s only the first week of the NFL season,” Pallone said in a statement.

“These sites are enormously popular, arguably central to the fans’ experience, and professional leagues are seeing the enormous profits as a result.  Despite how mainstream these sites have become, though, the legal landscape governing these activities remains murky and should be reviewed.”

He added that fans are currently allowed to risk money on the performance of an individual player, observing: “How is that different than wagering money on the outcome of a game?”

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