Florida legislator is looking to bring legalization and regulation for daily fantasy sports to the Sunshine State while also likely banning controversial prop-bet-like contests.
Sen. Travis Hutson (R-Palm Beach) has filed SB 1568, or the Fantasy Sports Contest Amusement Act, in time for the state’s legislative session that runs from Jan. 9 through March 8.
“The act is designed to regulate contest operators and individuals who participate in such contests and to enact consumer protections related to fantasy sports contests,” SB 1568 reads.
The Fantasy Sports Contest Amusement Act proposes a $1 million licensing fee for commercial operators to do business in Florida with a $250,000 annual renewal.
This bill would bring fantasy sports clarity in a state that technically doesn’t allow for operators to do business there, but it hasn’t taken much legal action against them in the past.
What’s in the bill?
SB 1568 requires “fantasy sports contests” to “involve the skill of contest participants,” and states that winning outcomes are “determined predominately by accumulated statistical results of the performance of individuals, including athletes in the case of sporting events.”
The act also defines “contest” as participants managing a fantasy or sports team composed of athletes from a professional sports organization.
The bill clearly states that no winning outcome can be determined by a point spread or performance of an actual team, therefore eliminating anything sports betting related from the act.
Fantasy sports would fall under the regulations of the Florida Gaming Control, which would conduct investigations, monitor contests, access records and accounts, and deny, revoke, or suspend operating licenses.
What the bill doesn’t allow
SB 1568 would prohibit “against the house” contests, so once again, nothing resembles a sportsbook.
This would make it hard for sites like Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks, which offer contests where prop-like picks are made to win payouts.
The Florida Gaming Control sent cease-and-desist letters against those types of sites in 2023, but they continue to operate in the state. So do DraftKings and FanDuel, which offer the kind of contests Hutson is looking to legalize.
Florida sports betting currently isn't state-regulated. The legality of it is still being challenged, but wagers are currently accepted.
Online sports bets can only be placed with Hard Rock Bet's app or in person at Seminole Tribe-owned casinos.
Even that wasn’t offered during a two-year hiatus and was allowed beginning in November after the Supreme Court rejected an emergency bid to block the Seminole Tribe’s agreement with the Sunshine State.
