New Jersey senate to mull daily fantasy sports bill

New Jersey has joined the procession of US states with legislative intentions on daily fantasy sports, with the introduction to the state Senate of S.1927 by Senator Jim Whelan Monday.

A presser from the senator’s offices reveals that the measure is specific to daily fantasy sports (it apparently leaves season-long fantasy sports as is) and seeks to avoid fees and taxes that are so high as to prove an obstruction to smaller DFS companies that would like to operate legally in the state.

The measure Whelan unveiled Monday would have the state Department of Law and Public Safety oversee the games in New Jersey, issuing permits to casino operators and other business ventures that want to conduct daily fantasy sports in the state.

The bill proposes a tax rate equivalent to that paid by Atlantic City land casino operators of 9.25 percent of GGR, and contains the now-familiar provision of prohibiting DFS employees and family members from playing in DFS contests, along with safeguards against underage or problem gambling, and requirements that operators segregate player funds from operational monies.

“I can confidently say that we have a good bill that puts important consumer safeguards in place while not impeding people’s ability to play and enjoy daily fantasy sports,” the senator said in a statement Monday. “As I have said from the beginning, New Jersey can be a model for the rest of the nation of how to effectively and efficiently regulate daily fantasy sports.”

Whelan’s bill would only regulate daily fantasy sports, not season-long competitions.

New Jersey joins about 30 states that have introduced bills to regulate the industry. At least two other states, California and New York, have proposals to tax the games.

More details on the bill are awaited, but Whelan has moved quickly to organise a Senate Economic Growth Committee hearing on the bill this Thursday.