FSTA Sacrificing Season Long Fantasy Sports Firms to Save DraftKings, FanDuel
At this week’s Daily Fantasy Sports Expo in Miami Beach Gambling911.com spoke with those concerned over the Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) failing to look after the best interest of season long fantasy sports businesses.
“They are doing stuff underhanded,” one seasonal league representative, who wished to remain anonymous, told Gambling911.com, citing an example that could force him and similar companies out of states like Virginia.
“There is a bill on the verge of passing in Virginia where the Daily Fantasy Sports sites like DraftKings and FanDuel would be required to pay $50,000 yearly,” this individual shared with G911. “The FSTA turned its back on season long fantasy sports companies. They were supposed to include language that would have exempt season long businesses from the Virginia bill. That language was not included. We and most season long fantasy sports companies will be unable to pay that type of money and will have to pull out of Virginia.”
The individual warns that other states could soon follow, providing an obstacle that prevents smaller DFS sites from operating in said states.
“$50,000 per state is nothing to a DraftKings or FanDuel!” this individual points out.
We asked Republican Wisconsin Representative Tyler Vorpagel during Thursday’s closing session about his own bill to legalize Daily Fantasy Sports in The Badger State and how companies would be able to afford the $50,000 licensing fee, especially with another 49 states potentially requiring the same steep fee.
Vorpagel was quick to state he understood these concerns and will continue to review other alternatives.
He’ll have plenty of time to make those changes as the bill won’t be resurrected again until January 2017.
The good news: Wisconsin residents will be able to play on Daily Fantasy Sports sites in 2016.
“Attorney General Brad Schimel is neutral on the subject,” Vorpagel said.
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
