Last month, the Minnesota House State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committee amended HF2000, the sports-betting bill, to include regulation of daily fantasy sports in Minnesota. The amendment would create a definition of fantasy-sports contests, a licensing structure for daily fantasy-sports operators, and regulatory oversight focused on consumer protections and responsible play.
Fantasy sports hold a special place in the hearts of many Minnesotans, including my own. We have the fifth-most fantasy players of any state in the nation and the highest per capita. Whether you are fanatical about daily fantasy sports or find yourself competing in year 15 of your college buddy’s fantasy baseball league, this legislation ensures you can play the games you love for years to come.
It's safe to say everyone knows someone who plays fantasy sports — in part because they won't stop talking about it. We love becoming superfans, flexing our knowledge while doling out healthy doses of smack talk. Fantasy leagues reinforce friendships, even when time and geography separate us. Together, we experience how these innovative contests of skill unite us around a shared passion for the sports we love.
Every popular pastime evolves and improves over the years, and fantasy sports are no different. Almost nobody is playing with the same settings and rules they did in Eric Dickerson’s heyday.
As the former president of the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association for over a decade, I’ve seen the marketplace develop innovative games that provide a spectrum of game-play options. These games provide more options across more platforms for fantasy players.
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As fantasy players have become more knowledgeable and sophisticated, today’s fantasy-sports games increasingly require skill. Today’s contests are created in direct response to fans’ demand for new, simple, and exciting ways to engage with our favorite athletes day in and day out.
This year’s effort is not the first time the Minnesota Legislature has attempted to regulate daily fantasy sports operators; a similar effort failed in 2017. But with paid fantasy sports more popular than ever and the Legislature finally gaining momentum with sports wagering , the clarity and protection for daily fantasy-sports consumers and operators alike are paramount.
Absent this effort, there are real threats to daily fantasy sports lurking. Crucial to this effort are carve-outs for the season-long fantasy games.
In all, this bill would protect consumers, raise revenue for critical state programs, and enshrine protections for the entire suite of fantasy-sports contests that Minnesotans are currently enjoying.
This regulatory framework would ensure the games that Minnesotans have been playing for years, like best ball or fantasy pick’em, will still be available tomorrow should a sports-betting bill pass into law this legislative session. Minnesota Commerce Finance and Policy Chairman Rep. Zack Stephenson and the Minnesota House deserve thanks for putting protections in place to protect our innovative marketplace.
Paul Charchian of Plymouth, Minnesota, is on the board and was the president of the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association . He co-hosts the Paul Allen Show on KFAN Sports Radio and hosts Fantasy Football Weekly, also on KFAN. Additionally, he has launched fantasy-related companies like Fanball.com, LeagueSafe.com, and Guillotine Leagues.
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