Ohio regulators approve DFS rules

The state gambling regulator from Ohio has announced the approval of new DFS rules a few days before the start of a new football season.

US.- The Ohio Casino Control Commission unanimously approved on Wednesday a series of new rules for daily fantasy sports (DFS) operations in the state. The measures include banning sites from using auto-drafts to select players.

The new rules, which come into force on September 3, feature a list of consumer and anti-fraud protections. Athletes, coaches, referees and fantasy sites employers are not eligible to participate in any public fantasy sports contest.

Moreover, DFS sites must agree to ban access to local citizens under 18, ensure money is refunded to the public if a site closes and require participants to select their own players, cleveland.com reported. The ban of the auto-draft function is to ensure that DFS is based on skill instead of luck.

Matthew Schuler, the regulator’s executive director, said that the commission expects approximately 16 DFS operators to apply for licences. The DFS companies have to purchase a three-year licence from the state, which costs between US$3k and US$30k.

Schoenke said of Ohio’s new rules: “It’s good. It affirms it’s legal. It has a bunch of consumer-protection measures. And we also worked to make it so the registration fees work for operators of all sizes.”