Texas house committee hearing today on fantasy sports proposal

Texas Rep. Richard Raymond has managed to get his fantasy sports legalisation bill HB 1457 before a House committee which sits today (Monday) despite a year-old opinion by the state AG that such activity constitutes gambling under state law (see previous reports).

In a local press interview over the weekend, Raymond – a Democrat – said he personally played fantasy football contests and wanted to protect the many other Texans who participated in the popular pastime.

Raymond’s proposal would classify fantasy sports as games of skill, not of chance. Eight members of the Texas House – including Raymond – have signed on to the bill as authors or co-authors, and a companion bill has surfaced in the state Senate.

“I play fantasy football. I have a lot of friends that do,” Raymond said. “I filed the bill just to clarify, but I think [fantasy football] is legal already … If you don’t think fantasy football is a game of skill, then you haven’t played it.”

Ten states have passed laws declaring fantasy sports legal contests of skill, according to the Texas Fantasy Sports Alliance.