New Jersey Democrat Frank Pallone sent Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton a letter calling for a hearing on the legal status of fantasy sports websites, including the wildly popular “DraftKings” and “FanDuel.”
“Anyone who watched a game this weekend was inundated by commercials for fantasy sports websites, and it’s only the first week of the NFL season,” Pallone, the Energy and Commerce Committee’s ranking Democrat said in a statement Monday. “These sites are enormously popular, arguably central to the fans’ experience, and professional leagues are seeing the enormous profits as a result. Despite how mainstream these sites have become, though, the legal landscape governing these activities remains murky and should be reviewed.”
Pallone argues that websites offering cash prizes to members who pay to join and partake in fantasy leagues are still engaging in online sports gambling, which is prohibited by federal law.
You can read Pallone’s entire letter on the committee’s website.
[h/t: Roll Call]