Kansas fantasy sports bill awaits Governorâs signature Â
Legislation seeking to classify fantasy sports as a game of skill lands on Governor Brownbackâs desk to be signed into law
A bill seeking to legalize real-money fantasy sports in Kansas has landed on Governor Sam Brownbackâs desk for approval after lawmakers in the state House voted 98-21 in favor of its passage into law. [private]
The bill (HB 2155) passed through the Senate in early May with a 37-1 majority, and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Brownback shortly.
HB 2155 is a wide ranging piece of legislation that deals with charitable gaming, bingo, raffles and lotteries as well as fantasy sports.
It was tabled by Rep. Bret Hildabrand and challenged the opinion of the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission âKRGCâ that fantasy sports meet the criteria for a lottery and are therefore illegal.
Under the Kansas constitution only the state is allowed to administer lotteries, and the KRGC states on its website that fantasy sports has elements of âprize, chance and considerationâ and therefore the âelements of an illegal lottery are satisfied.â
The bill was fast-tracked after Kansas Attorney General Derrick Schmidt issued an opinion at the back end of last month stating that fantasy sports was in fact a game of skill and not a lottery.
Kansas is among a number of states including Washington and Montana seeking to reclassify fantasy sports as a game of skill, despite a carve-out in the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act 2006 permitting the activity at a federal level.