With the rise of popularity in fantasy sports, lawmakers are cracking down on the regulations for each state. Legislation is quickly becoming a very concerning issue for fantasy sports businesses. As a consumer, you need to be aware of the changes in the regulations for legally playing fantasy football – both season-long and daily. Many states are actively passing new laws to regulate and potentially limit your ability to enjoy playing the game you love.

Overview

While Apex would love to offer everyone the opportunity to play in our leagues, some states are quietly starting to restrict their residents. As most reading this will know, one of the most significant problems with the legislation is the difference between Daily Fantasy Sports (aka DFS) and traditional, season-long contests.

Most of the legislation is focused on regulating DFS, but the language is broad enough that it often encompasses season long contests as well, even though many of the terms and concepts don’t even apply. Some states are requiring an unaffordable amount of money (except for FanDuel and DraftKings) for a licensing fee and/or taxation, while others are issuing compliance regulations that are nearly impossible for small businesses to achieve.

State Summary

MyFantasyLeague does a good job of keeping track of the regulations in each state. Visit their State Summary to find out the current status of your state. To help keep your hobby legal for all, contact your representatives to object to any laws that would be prohibitive for small companies to operate in your state.

SBFSTA

Small Businesses of Fantasy Sports Trade Association is doing their best to lobby for fantasy football to be accessible and legal for all residents but it is an expensive endeavor. Check out their website to see how you can help by contributing funds to their lobbying efforts.