Two more U.S. states legalise daily fantasy sports

Two more US states now have laws governing daily fantasy sports after the governors of Missouri and Colorado signed bills into law this week.

In Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon signed House Bill 1941, the Missouri Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act, into law on Friday, making his state the sixth to do so saying:

“When a new frontier of online betting is available at the touch of a screen, we have a responsibility to protect consumers and young people. I appreciate the General Assembly for answering my call to bring forward common-sense consumer protection to make sure fantasy sports gaming in Missouri is operated responsibly and with accountability.”

The measure received bipartisan support in the state Legislature, passing 131-13 in the House and 20-10 in the Senate.

Under the provisions of the bill the Missouri Gaming Commission will regulate the DFS, with authority to licence and if necessary investigate and prosecute issues and operators.

Operators will have to pay an application fee of $10,000 or 10 percent of net revenue from Missouri participants for the previous year, whichever is less, and an annual operation fee of 11.5 percent of net revenue for the previous year. The revenue generated by the sector will be dedicated to the state Education Fund.

The Act makes provision for the usual range of consumer protections associated with DFS, including an age limit of 18, keeping operating funds and player deposits separate, a ban on college sports events, fast pay-out deadlines, responsible gaming measures, marketing restrictions, bans on third party software, no credit betting allowed, strict operator audit requirements, and a dispute channel for players.

Just prior to Missouri’s signing, Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado made sure his state was the fifth in the US to legalise DFS when he signed HB1404 into law a month and a day after it was approved by the state Legislature and sent to his desk.

Regulation and licensing will be the mandate of the Division of Professions and Occupations in the Department of Regulatory Agencies, which will also be responsible for drafting appropriate licensing and renewal fees.

The bill exempts from registration operators who have less than 7,500 players, but larger operators with more players than this must register and licence, and subject their entyerprises to annual audits. Again there is a range of consumer protection measures enshrined in the legislation, which includes a prohibition on DFS employees taking part in contests, segregation of player funds, responsible gaming measures, bans on college sports contests, and a minimum player age of 18 years.

Other US states that have specifically legalised DFS include Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee and Mississippi.