Daily Fantasy Sports Bills Seek to Challenge State AG’s Stance on Legality

Texas received three daily fantasy sports (DFS) bills in quick succession this week, each aimed at legalizing and developing a framework of regulation for the contests.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sparked a lawsuit as he opined that day-to-day fantasy sports had been illegal under state legislation. A triple-pronged legislative approach from Representative Richard Raymond hopes to challenge that viewpoint.
The state missed out regarding the DFS legislation trend that appeared regarding the dockets of legislatures across the country in 2016 as a result of fact that its session that is legislative is, nonetheless it appears to be creating for lost time.
Each one of the three bills is sponsored by State Representative Richard Raymond (D-Laredo). His co-sponsors vary, as does the language of each bill, although they also chime in on many issues.
The three bills address the key preoccupations of legislators across the US, from player protections and operator registration fees, to the segregation of player funds as a body of legislation. Curiously, though, one bill ignores the latter somewhat crucial point altogether. Likewise, two bills would define DFS as games of skill, while one would not bother.
Representative Raymond is clearly hedging his bets.
The Letter of regulations
Raymond stated he hoped his triple-pronged approach would ‘clarify a confusing and ambiguous law and affirm that fantasy sports are legal in Texas.’
He told the Texas Fantasy Sports Alliance that ‘the government should not be limiting the freedom of Texans to participate in fantasy sports contests, which are clearly a game of ability, not chance.’
Texas became a legal battleground for DFS when, in January 2016, Texas AG Ken Paxton deemed the contests to be illegal games of chance under Texas law.
He said it absolutely was ‘beyond reasonable dispute that daily fantasy leagues involve a feature of opportunity regarding how a selected player will perform on game day.’
‘Paid daily fantasy activities operators claim they are able to legally operate being an unregulated home, but none of their arguments square with existing Texas law,’ he added.
‘Simply put, it is prohibited gambling in Texas if without a doubt on the performance of the participant in an event that is sporting the house takes a cut,’ Paxton concluded.
DraftKings Sues Texas AG
FanDuel quickly pulled out of the Texas market, but DraftKings, which possessed a sponsorship deal with the Dallas Cowboys, dug its heels in and sued Paxton.
DraftKings claimed his opinion had jeopardized its relationship with the Cowboys and that many Texans had closed their accounts as a result of his statement. The company’s lawyers asked the judge to clarify that DFS had not been illegal in Texas.
Paxton said the full case should be dismissed because his sovereign immunity protected him from lawsuits.
‘This lawsuit reflects a business’s effort to protect its chosen business model: profiting from paid online fantasy that is daily in Texas,’ he said.
The case is ongoing.
Tiger Woods Shanks His Return, Oddsmakers Lose Self-esteem
The Tiger Woods comeback that numerous in Las vegas, nevada were gambling on hasn’t exactly taken off as fans and gamblers had hoped.
Padraig harrington has lost control of his golfing technique, and Las Vegas bettors are slowly hope that is losing of comeback for the former great. (Image: Francois Nel/Getty Graphics)
After 17 months away from formal PGA Tour action, the 14-time major winner returned to golf’s main stage last week in California at the Farmers Insurance Open. His encore ended up being short-lived, however, as Woods shot 76-72 to miss the cut by four shots.
Nevada sportsbooks gave Woods a 30-1 potential for winning that tournament. And he would’ve won, had the 109 players who played better than he not shown up.
His second tournament in as many weeks, tennis’s 2nd all-time winner that is major in Dubai this week for the Omega Desert Timeless. The Westgate SuperBook gave him 40/1 odds of winning, and sold bets that are moneyline him merely making the cut (Yes -140, No +120), and finishing into the top 20 (Yes +300, No -360).
It could happen hard to imagine a worse performance in his week that is second right back. And speaking of ‘back,’ Woods’ often injury-prone back forced him to withdrawal after one round in which he shot a dismal 77.
Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg told reporters, ‘He went as a spasm in his back after dinner. He attempted to work it down last night. He had therapy started pretty early this early morning . . . but they can not get the spasm worked out.’
Tiger’s dropping out of the Dubai competition additionally nullifies numerous prop bets oddsmakers paired with Sunday’s Super Bowl LI. Lines like ‘Tiger Woods bogeys that are fourth-round) vs. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan total touchdown passes’ had become scrapped.
What’s in a Name?
Woods was many force that is dominant golf for some two decades. He won 79 times on the PGA Tour and his 14 majors trails on Jack Nicklaus’ 18.
Today, a new crop of young and budding talent rules golf. Woods hasn’t won a tournament since the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational, and his last major was the US Open in 2008.
But Vegas continued to believe in Tiger. However, after his performances that are recent or shortage thereof, bettors are beginning to pull away.
Jeff Sherman, the oddsmaker for Westgate, extended the chances of Tiger winning the Masters from 25/1 to 50/1 following the Dubai debacle. Considering he’s currently ranked an ironic #666 within the globe, and hasn’t even produced PGA Tour cut since August of 2015, those odds are still relatively strong.
‘Remove the name Tiger Woods along with a 200/1 golfer,’ Sherman tweeted this week. ‘ Leading the ticket count and cash changes that.’
Major Bummer
Tiger did more for the activity of golf than perhaps other player in the history of the game. PGA Tour events give fully out over $1 million checks very nearly to the winner every Sunday, as purses ballooned through the Woods age of dominance.
Golf, and sportsbooks, sooo want to have him right back. Tv ratings soar when Woods is into the mix, and sports wagers skyrocket.
‘A competitive Tiger is exceptional for handle and props,’ Sherman concluded.
Idaho Bar-Based Lottery Machines In Danger After Anti-Gambling Group Crusade
Idaho Lottery gambling machines commonly discovered in bars and taverns distribute over the northwestern US state could soon disappear from the watering holes after a group that is anti-gaming persuaded some state lawmakers to rethink their areas.
They look innocent enough, but Idaho Lottery gambling machines in ingesting sports are increasing problem gambling, at the very least based on one critic. (Image: Otto Kitsinger/Associated Press)
The Gem State, understood because of its abundance of normal resources, is additionally known to have touchscreen gaming machines near the counters of regional pubs and consuming establishments. Though Idaho has tribal gaming, commercial casinos remain outlawed.
The state legislature in 2011 granted the Idaho Lottery with the directly to place lottery devices inside organizations that serve those over the age of 21. Today, ‘tap scratches’ allow clients to relax and play easy games of chance while downing a common cocktail.
But Stop Predatory Gambling, a lobbying organization based in Washington, DC, has effectively convinced the Idaho House State Affairs Committee to push a bill to a floor to overturn the law that is six-year-old.
Authored collectively by the committee, House Bill 28 explains, ‘TouchTabs Lottery machines operate with no paper lottery entry ticket the same as a slot machine, which is prohibited by the Idaho Constitution.’
The Affairs Committee passed HB 28 by a vote of 10-5. It now makes its way to the Idaho House floor for continued consideration.
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Typical Rhetoric
Stop Predatory Gambling is certainly one of the best groups that are anti-gaming the nation. In 2015, its director that is national Bernal, testified before A united states House committee on the dangers of online gambling enterprises.
Interactive gambling companies denounce claims from their detractors that casino websites cannot be guaranteed, in addition to adequately protected from minors and problems gamblers trying to access the games. And critics like Bernal get creative when coming up with their case.
John Kindt, a professor at the University of Illinois class of Law and an opponent that is longtime of gambling, arrived up with the awesome taglines, ‘Click your phone, lose your home,’ and ‘Click your mouse, lose your house.’
This week in Idaho, Boise State Professor Jonathan Krutz, who serves on the Step Predatory Gambling Board of Directors, arrived up along with his very own clever method to describe the lottery’s touch scratch devices.
In a headline-making description, the anti-gaming activist said, ‘The distinction between these devices and paper pull tab machines may be the distinction between caffeine and cocaine.’
On his Boise State University website, Krutz lists ‘gambling studies’ as one of his primary research interests.
Gambling Cost
Should HB 28 make its way through Idaho’s legislature in order to find its way into legislation, the monetary effect of stripping the touch gaming machines from pubs will mostly impact their state’s training system.
Tax revenue generated from the tavern gaming devices goes to schools that are public plus the state’s permanent building investment. Nonetheless, Krutz contends the fallout that is financial be minimal. According to the Spokesman-Review, a daily magazine covering eastern Washington and parts of Idaho, the state’s take through the electronic devices was just about $3 million year that is last.
The typical machine collected on average about $7 per 60 minutes over the past 12 months though the machines are capable of playing 1,200 bets per hour.
Indiana Casinos’ Unusual $3 Admission Tax may be Headed for Exit Soon
Indiana gambling enterprises might soon be allowed to eliminate the $3 admission charge per patron they’re presently forced to impose on visitors. That’s the news that is good. The bad news is that the state is looking to impose an additional three percent wagering income tax on operators regarding the state’s 10 riverboats and one land-based casino. Indiana is also house to two racinos.
Governor Eric Holcomb, Vice President Mike Pence’s successor in the Hoosier State, is keeping a more mind that is open it comes to Indiana casinos. (Image: Michael Conroy/Associated Press)
Indiana presently imposes a tax of between 15 and 40 percent on casinos, depending on their total gross gaming income.
Introduced by State Rep. Todd Huston (R-District 37), House Bill 1350 ‘changes the riverboat admissions income tax up to a supplemental wagering tax of 3 % of a riverboat’s modified gross receipts.’
More importantly, should the bill become law, local communities in Northwest Indiana and throughout their state stand to receive less in the manner of distribution dollars generated from the casinos. Indiana presently delivers about $48 million annually to governments that are regional but Huston’s bill would reduce those expenditures by roughly $18 million.
Local communities gather the admission tax, but will have to bet on increased gaming revenues and the additional three % tax to pay for their entrance fee losses.
Increased Patrons, Increased Gambling?
Huston is touting his legislation being a real way to encourage casinos to invest in their properties.
Huston wants the riverboats and racinos to raise their game therefore to talk, in order to better compete with neighboring casinos in other states. Northwestern riverboats create a chunk that is large of income by marketing towards the Chicago demographic, but Illinois lawmakers are currently deliberating a bill to expand gambling.
‘ We now have to recognize that we’re not the game that is only town anymore,’ Huston told The Times, the second-largest paper in Indiana.
Raising taxes isn’t typically seen as a method to motivate businesses, but the state lawmaker believes ridding the $3 entry fee will increase foot traffic and overall gaming revenues. However, statistics never support the suggestion necessarily. Increased admissions does not directly correlate to increased gaming.
The Times points out that the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City ranked 2nd in the state final year in admissions, but came in fifth as a whole wagering taxes.
