Support the Registered Fantasy Contest Operators Act, HB 118

On behalf of our activist community in Georgia, I urge you to contact your state representative and ask him or her to support the Registered Fantasy Contest Operators Act, HB 118. The bill would ensure that daily fantasy sports websites can operate legally in the Peach State and implement consumer protections for players.

Fans have taken their passion for sports online, using daily fantasy sports to compete with their friends, family, or coworkers. Today, more than 53 million Americans, and more than 1.7 million Georgians, play daily fantasy sports, carefully drafting players with the hope of earning bragging rights at the end of the season.

It takes a certain skill to play daily fantasy sports, much like it takes skill for Thomas Dimitroff or Alex Anthopoulos to put together rosters for the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves. Industry leaders have partnered with professional sports leagues, including the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB), to promote daily fantasy sports and to promote their respective professional leagues.

The Registered Fantasy Contest Operators Act, HB 118, would put protections in place to ensure that players can continue to enjoy daily fantasy sports leagues. The bill would establish a minimum age requirement of 18 to play fantasy sports and require that funds paid by the player are kept in a secure account. It would ensure that beginner and experienced players are separated to ensure fairness in competition. A fantasy contest operator would be required to pay a registration fee with the state and pay a 6 percent tax on gross revenues.

Nearly 20 states have passed similar laws to ensure that players can continue to enjoy daily fantasy sports. The Registered Fantasy Contest Operators Act, HB 118, updates Georgia law to ensure that players can continue to play these games while also ensuring that protections are in place. For these reasons, I urge you to contact your state representative and ask him or her to support the Registered Fantasy Contest Operators Act, HB 118.

Sincerely,

Adam Brandon, President, FreedomWorks