Nebraska legislators have begun debate of a bill that would legalize daily fantasy sports websites in the states, while subjecting them to regulation. It would be joining 19 other states that have adopted similar laws.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Tyson Larson, says it will protect consumers from websites that take advantage of the unwary with algorithms that it very hard to win.
The bill is backed by DraftKings and FanDuel, the leading companies in the industry. It includes hefty fines to discourage non-licensed companies that don’t register with the Nebraska Department of Revenue.
The Fantasy Sports Trade Association estimates that about 300,000 people in the state play fantasy sports.
Larson told the News & Observer last week, “We just want to have reasonable protections. There are some companies that allow 3,000 entries at once. That makes it extremely hard for an average player to compete and win against those types of people.”
Senator Ernie Chambers, who considers DFS to be a form of gambling, said he plans to try to stall voting on the measure by forcing a long debate. “This is a bill I can take a lot of time on,” he commented.
Other critics say the bill put “the casino right in your telephone,” as a spokesman for Gambling with the Good Life put it.
