Fantasy sports bill headed to House vote

Legislation to explicitly authorize fantasy sports games in the state is on its way to a vote in the Minnesota House.

Members of the House Public Safety Committee approved the measure Tuesday after a brief hearing. It won approval last week from the House Commerce Committee.

The bill would define fantasy sports, both daily and seasonal, as contests of skill, not gambling. Current state law doesn’t say whether fantasy games are legal or not.

Rep. Tim Sanders, R-Blaine, said he wants to clarify the issue in Minnesota.

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“Things are relatively quiet in Minnesota,” Sanders said. “We don’t have any litigation pending or anything like that. I think now is the time to actually codify what is actually already accessible or lawful here in Minnesota, and actually officially make legal fantasy sports.”

Sean Ostrow, manager of government affairs for the fantasy sports company FanDuel, said Sanders’ bill includes common sense consumer protections and regulations.

“Continuing to allow the fantasy sports marketplace to go entirely unregulated is not in the best interest of either consumers or fantasy sports operators,” Ostrow said.

The group Citizens Against Gambling Expansion opposes the bill. Executive Director Jake Grassel said daily fantasy sports is a form of online betting that violates current state gambling  law.

“Unlike season-long fantasy sports, it really enhances the chance provision of gaming and puts that into play,” Grassel said. “We need to pause here. We need to have some true deliberation on this bill.”

Grassel did not testify during Thursday’s hearing. He shared his concerns during last week’s hearing.

There’s been no action yet on the Senate version of the bill.