PrizePicks will not be operating contests in the Sunshine State at the end of the month.
The daily fantasy sports site and two others were sent a second cease-and-desist letter from the Florida Gaming and Control Commission on Jan. 31 for operating illegally.
PrizePicks sent out a letter to Sunshine State customers over the weekend confirming that business will be paused on Feb. 29 at 11:59 p.m. No more entries from residents of Florida will be accepted beginning March 1.
Any picks or squares contests entered before that date are active until settled.
PrizePicks assured customers that current funds are safe and can be withdrawn at any time, even after Feb. 29. Accounts will remain open despite the shutdown of the pick ’em-style contests.
PrizePicks said in the email that it is “working with policymakers to bring greater clarity” to Florida’s DFS laws.
Cracking down
Underdog Fantasy and Betr are the other DFS operators to receive cease-and-desist letters with an order to end business within 30 days.
Neither have officially confirmed their departures from Florida, but it seems likely they will follow PrizePicks in the shutdown.
Sunshine State regulators began cracking down last year as they feel DFS sites mimic sports betting. Hard Rock Bet, run by the Seminole Tribe, is Florida’s only online sportsbook, but even that is being challenged in the courts.
Other states follow
The legality of DFS has been hotly contested in other states.
PrizePicks reached a $15 million settlement with the New York Gaming Commission for illegally operating. While PrizePicks has halted its picks contests in the Empire State, it’s hoping to obtain an operating license, which is why it settled with regulators.
PrizePicks introduced a peer-to-peer game, which skirts the house-run-like contests, earlier this year in Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Michigan, Arkansas, and Kansas have also taken action to stop DFS operators.
