Nevada policy committee reaffirms that DFS is to be treated as gambling

Any hopes that a special ‘skill game’ dispensation for daily fantasy sports might emerge in Nevada were dashed this week when the Nevada Gaming Policy Committee reaffirmed that daily fantasy sports is regarded as gaming in the state.

That means that if major DFS companies like DraftKings and FanDuel want to offer their products in the state, they will have to meet the same tough licensing standards as other gambling operators.

Only one DFS company – USFantasy — has so far achieved Nevada licensing to operate a DFS-style pari-mutuel game; it now operates in more than 40 Nevada sportsbooks.

The Nevada Gaming Policy Committee, which comprises gaming regulators, lawmakers and executives from gaming companies, said that there is no necessity for amendments to Nevada licensing laws regarding DFS, and that it will therefore not make formal recommendations to the state legislature.

Our readers will recall that the Nevada AG fired a warning “gambling” shot across DFS company bows last year, resulting in DraftKings and FanDuel exiting the state.

Observers have opined that it is unlikely they will risk applying for Nevada gambling licenses as this would contradict their arguments in other US states that their offering is skill gaming and not gambling.

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