The Coalition for Fantasy Sports has announced its support for Illinois House Bill 5648.
The Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act aims to safeguard fantasy sports fans and provide comprehensive regulation for daily fantasy sports (DFS) within the state.
This regulatory framework intends to provide legal clarity, encourage responsible play and protect consumers in the growing DFS industry.
Supporters also hope the legislation, if implemented, would remove barriers to growth and promote innovation in the industry.
The coalition is made up of members from DFS companies working to support the industry and encourage best practices.
While sports betting was legalized in Illinois in 2019, the state lacked clear legislation to protect fans.
Chief Senate Bill Sponsor Lakesia Collins shared her thoughts on the need for the bill: "With the popularity of daily fantasy sports soaring, now is the time to codify the industry's legal status into state law and ensure Illinois players are best protected.
“That is why I'm incredibly excited to take the lead on legislation that would not only allow sports fans to continue playing the daily fantasy contests they love, but do so in a way that protects their best interests, puts up guardrails to keep bad actors out of the market, and generates potentially tens of millions in new tax revenue for Illinois."
House Bill Sponsor, Representative Eva-Dina Delgado, highlighted the need for regulatory clarity: “Our goal is to provide a secure environment for fantasy sports fans across the state of Illinois. This legislation is a positive step toward ensuring that fantasy sports enthusiasts can continue participating in these contests with confidence.”
The popularity of fantasy sports has continued to grow, creating a need for legislation in US states.
This year, RSports Interactive purchased SharpLink Gaming’s fantasy sports business units.
Moreover, DFS operator PrizePicks released a new fantasy sports game debuting in Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming.
In related news, Illinois' casinos reported $141.2m in December revenue, growing by more than 23% year-over-year.
