With the passage of a daily fantasy sports bill, the Vermont legislature gave the daily fantasy sports industry a small, but much needed victory this week. Unfortunately, DFS continues to strike out in larger states, with the latest legislative failure occurring in North Carolina.
Sports betting talk continues to heat up, as calls for legalization continue to intensify, perhaps aided by the string of new hybrid products that have sprung into being.
DFS legislation update
Vermont governor is on the clock
It looks like Vermont will soon be adding its name to the list of states that have legalized daily fantasy sports.
The legislature passed a bill that would legalize and regulate DFS in the state this week. The bill’s next stop will be the desk of Governor Phil Scott.
Vermont is a small state, but following recent failures in Florida and Texas, the industry will welcome any DFS legislative momentum it can get.
DFS is down but not out in North Carolina
A daily fantasy sports bill failed to advance out of the North Carolina House Regulatory Reform Committee.
The Committee voted down the bill, H 279, by a vote of 4-7.
The bill isn’t dead, but its future seems in doubt unless several committee members have a change of heart, or the legislature blazes a new path for DFS legislation.
DFS news and notes
- Legislative action in Alabama faces an uphill battle. The legislative session ends today, and a DFS bill would have to pass both houses to make it to the governor’s desk.
- FanDuel has added WNBA games to its list of contests. What impact this might have in broadening the appeal of DFS to new demographics is unclear.
The DFS bill tally
The number of states that have introduced legislation seeking to legalize DFS in 2017 still stands at 24. The number of states with active legislation is still 18:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
Florida- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Vermont
- Washington
- Maine
Legal Sports Report’s legislative tracker has up-to-the-minute updates on all DFS legislation.
Sports betting legalization update
New Jersey Congressman wants sports betting action
New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone is growing impatient, and wants the Supreme Court to get the ball rolling on Pallone’s home state’s sports betting case.
The Supreme Court has asked the US Solicitor General to weigh in on New Jersey’s sports betting appeal before it decides if it will hear the case. But the SG position has yet to be filled, as Solicitor General nominee Noel Francisco is still awaiting confirmation.
Frustrated with waiting, Pallone sent a letter to the acting Solicitor General, urging him to weigh in on New Jersey’s sports betting appeal, according to ESPN.
Legal Sports Report’s Dustin Gouker provides some background and insights into this story here.
Products continued to blur the sports betting line
While New Jersey waits to find out sports betting’s future, a number of new products continue to push the envelope when it comes to what does and doesn’t violate the federal sports betting prohibition known as PASPA.
As Legal Sports Report outlines, companies are trying to fill the void by developing social sports betting products and DFS/sports betting hybrids.
Sports betting legislation
Eight states are fighting for a repeal of PASPA, or pre-committing to legalizing sports betting if federal sports betting laws were to change:
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- West Virginia
