Maryland attorney general issues opinion on DFS

Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller told reporters Monday that fantasy sports operators need to stop operating in Maryland or propose legislation to make their ventures legal.

The Senator claimed that on Friday state Attorney General Brian E. Frosh had advised the Legislature that day-betting on fantasy sports is not authorised under existing state law.

The Attorney General was responding to a request by Sen. Miller to comment on the legality of DFS. He was also asked for advice on whether voters should have authorised the daily fantasy betting sites (see previous reports).

However, Sen. Miller said that he had no personal intention of pushing legislation to legalise the enterprises in Maryland, where more than 100,000 people allegedly play.

Rather, Miller told reporters Monday night, the industry needed to act to save itself.

“Somebody needs to take action,” Miller said. “I think it’s up to the industry to say, ‘We’re going to clean up our act, and we need to be legal and propose legislation to make that happen.’ ”

Industry representatives last week said they were eager to work with the legislature to clarify their legal standing in Maryland. The companies hired top Maryland lobbyists and consultants in advance of the General Assembly session that convened last week.

The full contents of the AG’s response were not yet available when we went to press Tuesday morning.