
Texas received three daily fantasy sports (DFS) bills in quick succession this week, each aimed at legalizing and creating a framework of regulation for the competitions.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sparked a lawsuit when he opined that day-to-day fantasy sports were illegal under state law. A triple-pronged legislative approach from Representative Richard Raymond hopes to challenge that viewpoint.
The state missed down on the DFS legislation trend that appeared on the dockets of legislatures across the country in 2016 due to the fact that its legislative session is biennial, but it appears to be getting back together for lost time.
Each of the three bills is sponsored by State Representative Richard Raymond (D-Laredo). Their co-sponsors vary, as does the language of each bill, although they also chime in on many issues.
The three bills address the key preoccupations of legislators across the US, from player protections and operator registration fees, to the segregation of player funds as a body of legislation. Curiously, though, one bill ignores the latter point that is somewhat crucial. Likewise, two bills would define DFS as games of skill, while one would not bother.
Representative Raymond is clearly hedging his wagers.
The Letter of regulations
Raymond stated he hoped his triple-pronged approach would ‘clarify a confusing and law that is ambiguous affirm that fantasy sports are appropriate in Texas.’
He told the Texas Fantasy Sports Alliance that ‘the government should not be limiting the freedom of Texans to participate in fantasy sports contests, which are clearly a game of skill, not possibility.’
Texas became a legal battleground for DFS when, in January 2016, Texas AG Ken Paxton deemed the contests to be illegal games of opportunity under Texas law.
He said it was ‘beyond reasonable dispute that day-to-day fantasy leagues involve a feature of possibility regarding exactly how a player that is selected perform on game day.’
‘Paid daily fantasy activities operators claim they can legally operate being an unregulated house, but none of their arguments square with existing Texas law,’ he added.
‘Simply put, it is prohibited gambling in Texas if you bet on the performance of a participant in a sporting event and the house takes a cut,’ Paxton concluded.
DraftKings Sues Texas AG
FanDuel quickly pulled out of the Texas market, but DraftKings, which had a sponsorship deal with the Dallas Cowboys, dug its heels in and sued Paxton.
DraftKings claimed their opinion had jeopardized its relationship with the Cowboys and that many Texans had closed their accounts as a result of his statement. The company’s lawyers asked the judge to clarify that DFS was not illegal in Texas.
Paxton said the full case should be dismissed because his sovereign immunity protected him from lawsuits.
‘This lawsuit reflects a firm’s attempt to protect its chosen business model: profiting from paid online fantasy that is daily in Texas,’ he said.
The case is ongoing.
Tiger Woods Shanks Their Return, Oddsmakers Lose Confidence
The Tiger Woods comeback that numerous in Las Vegas were wagering on hasn’t exactly taken off as fans and gamblers had hoped.
Tiger Woods has lost control of his golf game, and Las vegas, nevada bettors are slowly losing hope of the comeback for the former great. (Image: Francois Nel/Getty Graphics)
After 17 months away from formal PGA Tour action, the 14-time major winner returned to golf’s main stage final week in California at the Farmers Insurance Open. Their encore was short-lived, however, as Woods shot 76-72 to miss the cut by four shots.
Las vegas sportsbooks gave Woods a 30-1 chance of winning that tournament. In which he would’ve won, had the 109 players who played better than he maybe not shown up.
Their second tournament in as numerous months, golf’s second all-time major winner was in Dubai this week for the Omega Desert Vintage. The Westgate SuperBook gave him 40/1 odds of winning, and sold moneyline bets on him merely making the cut (Yes -140, No +120), and finishing into the top 20 (Yes +300, No -360).
It would were difficult to imagine a worse performance in his week that is second straight back. And talking about ‘back,’ Woods’ often injury-prone back forced him to withdrawal after one round in which he shot a dismal 77.
Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg told reporters, ‘He went in to a spasm in his spine after dinner. He tried to work it down night that is last. He had therapy started pretty early this early morning . . . but they can not get the spasm worked out.’
Tiger’s dropping from the Dubai tournament additionally nullifies numerous bets that are prop paired with Sunday’s Super Bowl LI. Lines like ‘Tiger Woods fourth-round bogeys (-1.5) vs. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan total touchdown passes’ had become scrapped.
What’s in a Name?
Woods was probably the most force that is dominant golf for some two years. He won 79 times on the PGA Tour and his 14 majors trails on Jack Nicklaus’ 18.
Today, a brand new crop of young and budding talent rules golf. Woods hasn’t won a tournament since the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational, and his last major was the US Open in 2008.
But Vegas proceeded to rely on Tiger. However, after his performances that are recent or shortage thereof, bettors are beginning to pull away.
Jeff Sherman, the oddsmaker for Westgate, extended chances of Tiger winning the Masters from 25/1 to 50/1 after the Dubai debacle. Considering he’s currently ranked an ironic #666 in the world, and hasn’t even produced PGA Tour cut since August of 2015, those odds are still relatively strong.
‘Remove the title Tiger Woods and you have a 200/1 golfer,’ Sherman tweeted this week. ‘ Leading the ticket money and count modifications that.’
Major Bummer
Tiger did more for the game of golf than possibly just about any player in the past history of the overall game. PGA Tour events give out over $1 million checks nearly to the winner every Sunday, as purses ballooned during the Woods era of dominance.
Golf, and sportsbooks, would like to have him right back. Tv ratings soar when Woods is into the mix, and sports wagers skyrocket.
‘a Tiger that is competitive is for handle and props,’ Sherman concluded.
Idaho Bar-Based Lottery Machines In Danger After Anti-Gambling Group Crusade
Idaho Lottery gambling machines commonly discovered in bars and taverns spread across the northwestern US state could soon disappear from the watering holes after an anti-gaming group successfully persuaded some state lawmakers to rethink their places.
They look innocent sufficient, but Idaho Lottery gambling machines in consuming sports are increasing problem gambling, at the very least in accordance with one critic. (Image: Otto Kitsinger/Associated Press)
The Gem State, known because of its abundance of natural resources, is also known to have touchscreen gaming machines near the counters of neighborhood pubs and ingesting establishments. Though Idaho has gaming that is tribal commercial gambling enterprises remain outlawed.
The state legislature in 2011 granted the Idaho Lottery with the right to place lottery devices inside organizations that provide those over the age of 21. Today, ‘tap scratches’ allow patrons to play simple games of chance while downing a common cocktail.
But Stop Predatory Gambling, a lobbying organization based in Washington, DC, has effectively convinced the Idaho House State Affairs Committee to push a bill to a floor to overturn the six-year-old law.
Authored collectively by the committee, House Bill 28 explains, ‘TouchTabs Lottery machines operate with out a paper lottery entry solution just like a slot device, which is forbidden by the Idaho Constitution.’
The Affairs Committee passed HB 28 by a vote of 10-5. It now makes its method to the Idaho House flooring for continued consideration.
Typical Rhetoric
Stop Predatory Gambling is certainly one of the best groups that are anti-gaming the united states. In 2015, its national manager, Les Bernal, testified before A united states House committee on the perils of online gambling enterprises.
Interactive gambling companies denounce claims from their detractors that casino websites cannot be secured, along with adequately protected from minors and problems gamblers wanting to access the games. And critics like Bernal get creative when making their case.
John Kindt, a teacher at the University of Illinois School of Law and a longtime opponent of online gambling, arrived up with the nifty taglines, ‘Click your phone, lose your property,’ and ‘Click your mouse, lose your house.’
This week in Idaho, Boise State Professor Jonathan Krutz, who acts on the Step Predatory Gambling Board of Directors, arrived up together with own way that is clever describe the lottery’s touch scratch machines.
The anti-gaming activist said, ‘The distinction between these machines and paper pull tab machines is the difference between caffeine and cocaine. in a headline-making description’
On his Boise State University webpage, Krutz lists ‘gambling studies’ as one of his main research interests.
Gambling Cost
Should HB 28 make its way through Idaho’s legislature in order to find its means into legislation, the impact that is financial of the touch gaming machines from pubs will mostly affect their state’s training system.
Tax revenue generated from the tavern gaming devices goes to schools that are public plus the state’s permanent building fund. But, Krutz argues the financial fallout will be minimal. According to the Spokesman-Review, a daily magazine covering eastern Washington and elements of Idaho, the state’s take from the electronic devices was only about $3 million year that is last.
The typical machine collected on average about $7 per 60 minutes over the past 12 months though the machines are capable of playing 1,200 bets per hour.
Indiana Casinos’ Unusual $3 Admission Tax may be Headed for Exit Soon
Indiana gambling enterprises might be allowed online pokies australia free bonus no deposit to soon eliminate the $3 admission cost per patron they’re presently forced to impose on visitors. That’s the news that is good. The bad news is that the state is looking to impose an additional three percent wagering tax on operators of the state’s 10 riverboats and one land-based casino. Indiana is additionally house to two racinos.
Governor Eric Holcomb, Vice President Mike Pence’s successor in the Hoosier State, is keeping a more available mind when it involves Indiana casinos. (Image: Michael Conroy/Associated Press)
Indiana presently imposes a tax of between 15 and 40 percent on gambling enterprises, based on their total gaming income that is gross.
Introduced by State Rep. Todd Huston (R-District 37), House Bill 1350 ‘changes the riverboat admissions taxation to a supplemental wagering tax of 3 percent of a riverboat’s adjusted gross receipts.’
More importantly, should the bill become law, local communities in Northwest Indiana and throughout the state stand to receive less in the way of distribution dollars produced from the casinos. Indiana presently delivers about $48 million yearly to regional governments, but Huston’s bill would reduce those expenses by roughly $18 million.
Local communities gather the admission tax, but will have to bet on increased video gaming revenues and the additional three per cent taxation to pay for their entrance charge losses.
Increased Patrons, Increased Gambling?
Huston is touting his legislation being a way to encourage casinos to buy their properties.
Huston wants the riverboats and racinos to elevate their game so to talk, in order to better compete with neighboring casinos in other states. Northwestern riverboats create a large chunk of these earnings by advertising towards the Chicago demographic, but Illinois lawmakers are deliberating a bill to expand gambling.
‘ We have to recognize that people’re not the game that is only town anymore,’ Huston told The Times, the second-largest magazine in Indiana.
Raising taxes isn’t typically seen as a way to encourage businesses, but the state lawmaker believes ridding the $3 entry cost will increase foot traffic and overall gaming revenues. However, data never necessarily offer the recommendation. Increased admissions does in a roundabout way correlate to increased gaming.
The occasions points out that the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City ranked second in the state last 12 months in admissions, but came in fifth altogether wagering taxes.