The daily fantasy sports (DFS) industry apparently will not be getting the green-light to operate in Alabama any time soon.
Despite unanimously passing the Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee earlier this month, SB325 —which would establish the Fantasy Contests Act and provide for the registration of certain fantasy sports operators conducting fantasy sports contests within the state — was decisively shut down on the floor during Tuesday’s session before even given a chance to take a vote on the matter.
History of Fantasy Sports in Alabama
In April 2016, former state Attorney General Luther Strange sent cease-and-desist letters to two Daily Fantasy Sports companies — DraftKings and FanDuel — after determining that paid daily fantasy sports contests constitute illegal gambling.
In DFS, participants pay to create a roster of players, then pit their roster against those of other participants. Whomever’s roster performs the best that day within a certain pool wins prize money through the site.
According to Alabama code section 13A-20-12, a person participates in gambling if he or she “stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.”
Gambling in Alabama is illegal, with a few exceptions including buying securities and commodities, insurance, and some grandfathered activities.
DFS sites often contend they are games of skill, not of chance, and thus aren’t covered under most states’ gambling laws, nevertheless the companies complied with Strange’s request.
Sanford contends 400,000 Alabamans played fantasy sports before it was banned from the Yellowhammer State.
Previous legislative attempts to legalize fantasy sports
For three years now state lawmakers have endeavored to legalize fantasy sports. Last year the House passed its version of a bill doing just that, but the Senate adjourned for the session without ever taking it up.
Since the bill’s sponsor, Huntsville-Republican state Sen. Paul Sanford, is retiring it is unknown whether or not the legislation will be introduced again in the future.
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Alabama’sledership is lost and only look out for themselves. They could care less about the people of Alabama’s well being. How can you separate the dog tracks and “bingo” facilities from fantasy sports or any other form of entertainment. If this was truly about morality then we wouldn’t sell cigarettes and alcohol in every grocery and convenience store in the state. Cigarettes kill more people than anything else and you can buy packs for $5 bucks anywhere. This isn’t about caring about the people’s well being, this is about a selfish few trying suppress the state while they line their pockets and keep the wealth between themselves. Not to mention they are obviously being paid off from neighboring states such as Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennesse to keep our money flowing through their states via lottery tickets and casinos. Just think, the Wind Creek locations are called castinos and act as such outside of not having table gaming and having a small-corny bingo card on each machine. Oh but that’s not gambling. Morons!!! I can garauntee you the majority of our so called representatives that keep voting down these bills gamble themselves ALL THE TIME!
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