Having long been a legal gray area in many parts of the United States, daily fantasy sports has finally been fully legalized in the state of Pennsylvania with the only catch being a 15 percent tax on the revenue of each of the operators. This particular move is part of the larger statewide gaming expansion plans that came into effect last year in October. Already, six fantasy sports operators including FanDuel and DraftKings have been registered to legally offer their services to customers under the associated state law that was effected on Saturday, April 28.
The other four sports betting sites are StarStreet (DRAFT), Fastpick, Boom Shakalaka (Boom Fantasy) and JDAD (Fantasy Football Players Championship). The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board assured players that are already participating in daily fantasy sports with any of the operators that had received a license form the board that there will be no noticeable differences and thus there will be no need to reregister.
The number of operators could increase in the near future since according to Kevin O’Toole, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the board has been receiving a number of daily fantasy sports license applications from a number of companies. However, the initial focus seems to be on the already licensed operators as the board evaluates the outcome of the decision. Kevin O’Toole further pointed out that the board will regulate and monitor the sites to ensure that offer fair gaming environments and that each of them meets the state’s standards.
“This roll-out also marks the beginning for Pennsylvania to create new revenue through the taxation of entry fees from players registered in Pennsylvania to participate in fantasy sports contests,” O’Toole said. “Pennsylvania residents that enter fantasy sports contests can know that they are participating in a fair playing environment and assured that each licensed operator meets standards set out in the law and regulated by the Gaming Control Board.”
Some of the requirements that the licensees will have to adhere to include the verification of player identities, making players aware of the rules and prizes before playing, limiting beginner contests to beginning players and establishing proper channels for responding to players concerns. With daily fantasy sports now legal in Pennsylvania, players who will keep playing on sites that are not on the list of licensed sites will technically be in breach of state law.
“The Gaming Control Board urges, however, that players review the eligibility guidelines on the websites of these fantasy sports contest operators prior to attempting to participate in play,” the board added.
