is request comes after the inaugural weekend of this year’s NFL season, when DFS football advertisements reached saturation point, overwhelming even the expensive car and beer adverts.
Rep. Pallone suggested that the hearing should include an examination of the difference between gambling on sports (presently controlled and restricted by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) and playing fantasy sports, along with the close ties between national sports leagues and teams and the fantasy industry.
“Anyone who watched a game this weekend was inundated by commercials for fantasy sports Web sites, and it’s only the first week of the NFL season. These sites are enormously popular, arguably central to the fans’ experience, and professional leagues are seeing the enormous profits as a result. Despite how mainstream these sites have become, though, the legal landscape governing these activities remains murky and should be reviewed,” Pallone said in a statement.
He added that fans are currently allowed to risk money on the performance of an individual player, observing: “How is that different than wagering money on the outcome of a game?”
