Texas fantasy sports bill advances

The Texas House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures approved HB1457, a bill that seeks to affirm the legality of online fantasy sports, on Tuesday.

The bill is authored by Rep. Richard Raymond and was introduced earlier this year, supported by seven co-sponsors (see previous  reports). It classifies fantasy sports as games of skill and was voted forward on a 6 vs.1 vote by the committee almost a year after state Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion that the genre constituted illegal gambling in terms of state law.

The Texas Fantasy Sports Alliance issued a statement praising the committee for taking an “important step toward affirming the right of Texans.”

“Fantasy sports in our state are no different from other legal contests that Texans have enjoyed for decades,” spokesman Scott Dunaway said in a news release. “Technology has simply evolved the way Texans compete.”

The bill is likely to face opposition from some religious action groups who believe it is an expansion of gambling in Texas as it progresses to House and Senate votes.

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