Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 30, 2017

State Sen. Dana Young on Monday filed her own version of a bill that would legalize and regulate fantasy sports play. The Tampa Republican’s “Fantasy Contest Amusement Act” (SB 592) declares such games to “involve the skill of contest participants and do not constitute gambling, gaming, or games of chance.” And it would prohibit the playing of fantasy […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 24, 2017

FanDuel, the national fantasy sports website, has sent a “call to action” email to its Florida users, asking them to contact lawmakers in support of their hobby. “With the Big Game just around the corner, we have an important message to share with every Florida fantasy sports player,” the email says. “A new bill has […]

Associated PressNovember 18, 2016

Daily fantasy sports rivals DraftKings and FanDuel have agreed to merge after months of speculation and increasing regulatory scrutiny. The two companies made the announcement Friday, saying the combined organization would be able to reduce costs as they work to become profitable and battle with regulators across the country to remain legal. Florida struggled with […]

Peter SchorschAugust 25, 2016

In fantasy sports circles, attorney Daniel Wallach has become somewhat of an instant expert. Wallach, a shareholder with Becker & Poliakoff, repeatedly criticizes efforts to regulate daily fantasy sports, opining on pending legislation in Florida, Massachusetts, and New York. His rise to prominence on the subject received a major boost Oct. 8, 2015, when Wallach […]

Associated PressMarch 7, 2016

The daily fantasy sports debate has spilled into state capitols nationwide, with nearly 30 legislatures including Arizona’s considering proposals to regulate, ban or affirm the games played by millions of Americans. The flurry of recent legislative activity represents a sea change for the industry, which for years was content to operate largely unregulated. “We’ve been […]

Associated PressMarch 5, 2016

Florida legislators are rejecting, for now, a push to make fantasy sports legal in the state. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Destin Republican, made a last ditch effort on Friday to keep a fantasy sports bill alive in the final days of the 2016 session. But he dropped the effort after getting resistance from some other […]

Jim RosicaMarch 4, 2016

A legislative leader ultimately backed down Friday on his attempt to tack language legalizing fantasy sports play in Florida on a regulatory-related bill. State Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Fort Walton Beach Republican who chairs the Finance and Tax Committee, tried to amend a House bill (HB 1187) making changes to the state’s Department of Business […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 29, 2016

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One mystery was solved after a House panel cleared the latest version of this session’s gambling legislation: state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz said language on fantasy sports play was inserted into his chamber’s bill because Gov. Rick Scott wanted it there. Diaz, a Miami Republican, spoke to reporters Monday after the Finance and Tax Committee OK’d on […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 29, 2016

A 122-page “proposed committee substitute” that dropped Sunday night on the House’s 2016 gambling legislation would keep intact the guts of the proposed Seminole Compact, while allowing for expanded gambling opportunities throughout the state. The measure, set for consideration in the House Finance and Tax Committee Monday, makes proposed revisions to the new gambling deal (HB […]

Jac VerSteegFebruary 17, 2016

Sen. Joe Negron’s SB 832 declares that “fantasy contests” — meaning endeavors such as DraftKings and FanDuel — “involve the skill of contest participants and do not constitute gambling, gaming or games of chance.” Negron, R-Stuart and a Senate-president-to-be, would regulate this non-gambling via a newly created Office of Amusement. It’s not “gambling,” it’s an […]

Tag: fantasy sports

Dana Young files fantasy sports bill

FanDuel calls on Florida fans to support fantasy sports

Daily fantasy sports rivals DraftKings and FanDuel to merge

Is Daniel Wallach’s ‘unnamed source’ in fantasy sports debate actually Alan Koslow?

State legislatures see flurry of daily fantasy sports bills

No contest: Push to legalize fantasy sports in Florida fails

Fantasy sports bill fumbles in Florida House

Fantasy sports language in gambling bill because of Rick Scott, lawmaker says

Lawmakers file 122 pages of changes to Seminole Compact

Jac VerSteeg: Fantasy sports aren’t gambling? How amusing