As disclosed by Alabama Today, the daily fantasy sports industry will have to wait to get the green-light to operate in Alabama, since SB325 —the bill that would establish the Fantasy Contests Act and provide for the registration of certain fantasy sports operators conducting fantasy sports contests within the state — was decisively shut down on the floor during Tuesday’s session before even given a chance to take a vote on the matter.
In April 2016, former state Attorney General Luther Strange sent cease-and-desist letters to two Daily Fantasy Sports companies — DraftKings and FanDuel — after determining that paid daily fantasy sports contests constitute illegal gambling.
In DFS, participants pay to create a roster of players, then pit their roster against those of other participants. Whomever’s roster performs the best that day within a certain pool wins prize money through the site.
According to Alabama code section 13A-20-12, a person participates in gambling if he or she “stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome.”
Gambling in Alabama is illegal, with a few exceptions including buying securities and commodities, insurance, and some grandfathered activities.
DFS sites often contend they are games of skill, not of chance, and thus aren’t covered under most states’ gambling laws, nevertheless the companies complied with Strange’s request.
Sanford contends 400,000 Alabamans played fantasy sports before it was banned from the Yellowhammer State.
For three years now state lawmakers have endeavored to legalize fantasy sports. Last year the House passed its version of a bill doing just that, but the Senate adjourned for the session without ever taking it up.
Since the bill’s sponsor, Huntsville-Republican state Sen. Paul Sanford, is retiring it is unknown whether or not the legislation will be introduced again in the future.