By Alan Johnson, The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS – Two state lawmakers want to make fantasy sports a legal reality in Ohio.
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Reps. Jonathan Dever (R-Madeira) and Robert McColley (R-Napoleon) sponsors of House Bill 132, say it would provide consumer protection for Ohioans who participate in fantasy sports and regulations so “the industry operates in a transparent and accountable manner.” The Ohio Casino Control Commission would oversee fantasy sports, which would legally be regarded as a game of skill rather than gambling.
“Each day, countless Ohioans participate in daily fantasy sports,” Dever said in a statement. “House Bill 132 assures that these participants are protected under the law, while increasing the accountability of fantasy sports operators.”
Dever said he doesn’t participate in fantasy sports, but many of his friends do and they brought the issue to his attention.
“Most of the operators we talked to in crafting the legislation are interested in having reasonable rules,” he said.
The proposal, which has not yet had a public hearing, updates state law to “make it clear fantasy sports are legal in Ohio and installs important consumer protections.”
Ohio would become the 10th state to legalize fantasy sports, which now fall into a gray area of law. The federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 made online betting illegal, but exempted fantasy sports. Fantasy sports gambling is banned in Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana and Washington.
Fantasy sports are a big deal, as anyone will tell you who participates in a football or other pro-sports fantasy league. In recent years, it’s rapidly evolved into a big moneymaker, too, with businesses such as DraftKings and FanDuel and hundreds of smaller companies springing up to meet the demand.