California DFS bill marches on
AB 1437 clears the state Assembly with 62-1 majority, legislation also makes progress in FloridaÂ
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) bill AB 1437 continues to make repaid progress through the California legislature after being overwhelmingly approved by the state Assembly yesterday. [private]
The bill, introduced by Assemblyman Adam Gray back in September, passed through the full Assembly with a 62-1 vote â Assemblyman Adam Levine the only nay-sayer.
AB 1437, which includes a raft of consumer protections that include forcing operators to segregate player funds and limits on advertising, will move on to the state Senate.
Assuming it receives a favourable vote on the Senate floor, AB 1437 will then go back to the Assembly for final consideration before landing on Gov. Jerry Brownâs desk to be signed into law.
Amaya, which withdrew its StarsDraft site from all but four US states following the DraftKings data leak scandal, said the bill reflects the kind of consumer protections and industry standards it supports.
The firm also said it sees strong correlation between the merits of the bill and legalizing online poker, which is also enjoyed by millions of Californians but without the protections afforded by regulation.
DFS legislation also made progress in Florida, with SB 832 and HB 707 clearing the Senate Regulated Industries Committee and the House Finance and Tax Committee respectively.
The bills contain a $500,000 initial license fee and a $100,000 annual renewal fee, but allow smaller operators to pay 10% of entry fees âless the amount of cash or cash equivalentsâ paid to winners instead.
Meanwhile Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin became the latest to publish an opinion that DFS meets the definition of illegal gambling under state law.
Hawaii, like Utah, has a blanket ban on gambling and Chin said he wanted to make sure that stretched to daily fantasy sports.
âGambling generally occurs under Hawaii law when a person stakes or risks something of value upon a game of chance or upon any future contingent event not under the personâs control,â Chin said.
âThe technology may have changed, but the vice has not,â he added.
Hawaii joins the likes of New York, Illinois, Nevada, Texas and Vermont, all of which have ruled DFS meets the definition of gambling.