DFS go forward in Illinois

The State’s Senate approved a bill to allow online daily fantasy sports in legal regional casinos.

US.- Illinois State published the decision of the local Senate to pass the regulatory bill of daily fantasy sports –DFS–. Though the Chamber of Deputies has the last word, the project was paralysed by a Democrat Senator’s motion. If the bill is  approved, casino operators will be able to provide online daily fantasy sports in the state.

The regulatory proposal was introduced by DraftKings and FanDuel’s –major DFS operators– initiatives. The fantasy sports betting brands are trying to regulate the sector with the help of casino facilities. Illinois gaming parlours would operate online DFS and tournaments for players over 21 years old. However, casino industry may not be totally in favour of the bill, as they alleged that the regulation is weak and too narrow.

Furthermore, opponent operators added that the regulation should legalise more types of internet gambling to be complete. Illinois already has an active daily fantasy sports market, with over 192,000 players with paid accounts, the legalisation aims to control and regulate the current activity. The project, now frozen for the motion, sets an annual tax based on the total revenues of 5 to 30 percent.

“I would suggest that if we are going to expand gaming to this magnitude in the state that we have a comprehensive bill, a bill that holds everyone accountable to the same standards,” expressed state Laura Murphy, a Senate Democrat from Des Plaines. Supporters of the bill answered that the DFS legislation is planned to boost the gaming activity without changing the current gambling laws.