Vermont legal official declares daily fantasy sports as illegal

John Treadwell, a state assistant attorney general in Vermont, has declared that online daily fantasy sports (DFS) games are illegal in the US state, but has backed a bill that would regulate the sector.

The US fantasy sports market has come under heavy pressure in recent months, with a number of states having taken action to limit or regulate games.

Vermont now looks set to join this expanding list after a state senator last week put forward a bill that would allow such games to continue, but prohibit play by people under 18, professional athletes and people that work for the industry.

Treadwell, chief of the criminal division at the attorney general’s office, has now urged the state to adopt the regulations, saying that DFS games are currently breaching Vermont’s laws regarding sports betting.

“Daily fantasy sports violate Vermont's gambling laws,” Treadwell said according to the Reuters news agency.

“Vermont has very strict long-standing limitations on gambling.”

Treadwell said that the proposed bill would give DFS a special status compared to other forms of gambling that are currently outlawed in the state.

“Exalting one version of gambling above others does not seem appropriate,” he added.

Vermont is yet to take any legal action against DFS companies that are operating in the state.

Related article: Florida fantasy sports bill passes first committee stage