North Carolina advances DFS bill
The DFS legislative piece finally passed a House panel two years after it was derailed in North Carolina.
US.- The House Commerce Committee of North Carolina voted this week on a measure that would legalise fantasy sports (DFS). The measure was approved just two years after a similar bill failed to gain passage.
The bill establishes that companies that wish to operate DFS would need to pay registration fees for the state. If they fail to follow these rules, they would be subject to fines of US$10k or registration revocation.
This measure would also create a new state Gaming Commission. It would include the oversight of the local lottery, bingo, raffles and boxing from a number of different agencies, as well as fantasy games. A similar attempt took place in 2017 but the bill failed to pass the House.
Rep. Harry Warren, co-sponsor of the bill, said that fantasy games operated by companies like FanDuel and DraftKings are already happening, “and with or without this bill it’ll continue to go on. This bill would create a commission that would actually regulate it.”
Opposed to the bill, John Rustin, executive director of the North Carolina Family Policy Council, said that the fantasy sports contests are gambling based on the number of variables in sporting events. “The elements of chance predominate over the elements of skill,” he said.
Before it can be approved by the House floor, the bill needs to gain passage from three other committees. If approved by all of them, it would then need to pass the Senate.
North Carolina Senate approved sports betting
Earlier this year, the Senate approved horse and sports wagering at two Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian casinos. The voted ended up 43-7 in favour of Senate Bill 154 and was headed to the House for further review and a new vote.
