Michigan may legalise fantasy sports
Not long ago, the Michigan State House of Representatives introduced legislation proposing to exempt certain fantasy sports contests from the prohibition against gambling contained in the State’s penal code.
US.- The Michigan State House of Representatives have recently introduced legislation proposing to exempt certain fantasy sports contests from the prohibition against gambling contained in the State’s penal code.
The proposal is the second attempt to legalise fantasy sports contests in Michigan, after an earlier bill was introduced into the State Senate but never acted upon. The bill contemplates an exemption from State gambling law prohibitions for fantasy sports contests in which the prize is US$3,000 or less.
As per the proposed bill, in addition to the monetary threshold under which the prize must remain, fantasy sports contests must also satisfy the conditions expressly set forth in the federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (“UIGEA”).
Michigan’s most recent legalisation attempt follows successful legislative pronouncements in states including, such as New York, Colorado, Mississippi and Indiana. Comparable initiatives are underway in statehouses across the country including, among others, Wisconsin, California and Florida.
