Fantasy sports industry supports Adelson online gambling ban bill

The fantasy sports industry has thrown its support behind Sheldon Adelson’s attempt to ban internet gambling in the United States through the Restoration of America’s Wire Act introduced to Congress earlier this year by Senator Lindsey Graham and Representative Jason Chaffetz (see previous  reports).

Unsurprisingly, the Graham-Chaffetz proposals would leave the online activities of fantasy sports sites unaffected by the proposed ban.

The Washington DC publication The Hill reported Tuesday that according to a recently released federal lobbying form, the Fantasy Sports Trade Association brought on the law firm Dentons for help on “…issues that may affect the fantasy sports industry and legislation related to gaming.”

Specifically, the group is supporting the Restoration of America’s Wire Act, which seeks to make poker, casino and other online gambling games illegal.

Fantasy football or other fantasy sports, which are currently legal, will not be touched by the proposed legislation, which is currently at committee stage in both houses.

The Chicago-based Fantasy Sports Trade Association claims that it represents more than 170 members, including CBSSports.com, USA Today, Yahoo and other companies large and small.

In the past it has tried to distance fantasy sports from online gambling, claiming that it requires skill and knowledge rather than chance, and that players are not in pursuit of money or prizes.

Related and similar