Florida House, Senate approves daily fantasy sports bills

Florida has edged closer to legalising daily fantasy sports (DFS) after two bills that would make such games legal in the state were approved by the Senate Regulated Industries Committee and House Finance and Tax Committee.

Bills SB 832 and HB 707 were amended to require DFS operators that offer cash prizes to more than 750 players to pay $500,000 (€459,000) each in order to register with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and comply with rules to ban children from taking part.

Operators are also required to ban employees from participating in games that they are offering.

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee voted 8-2 in favour of the amended bills, with the House Finance and Tax Committee later also passing the bills with a vote of 15-3.

The bills must pass one more committee before they are put to a full House vote in the state.

Related article: Florida fantasy sports bill passes first committee stage