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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 2, 2016 04:22 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Tina M. Davis |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Co-sponsorship to authorize the State Lottery to create and operate fantasy sports lottery games |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would authorize the State Lottery to create and operate fantasy sports lottery games – a new lottery game that would allow the Commonwealth to capitalize on the popularity of fantasy sports but require the game to be based solely on chance. As you know, fantasy sports as a gaming product has recently become the topic of much controversy and confusion. Currently, there is no real consensus among the states, or the federal government for that matter, about the legality, implementation or regulation of daily fantasy sports. Much of the argument revolves around the debate of whether fantasy sports constitutes gambling at all, or if it is a game of skill. My legislation would not propel Pennsylvania into the debate about what to do with traditional daily fantasy sports, but would rather simply encourage the State Lottery to create a game that provides the excitement and popularity of daily fantasy sports but have its roots completely founded in chance and randomly drawn rosters of players. Specifically, the bill would authorize the State Lottery to establish fantasy sports lottery games for professional sports, such as professional football and baseball, as well as for NASCAR and other auto racing leagues. And the legislation would authorize the Secretary of Revenue to promulgate the rules and regulations of these games. In addition, my proposal would require the State Lottery to promote the operation of fantasy sports lottery games to current lottery sales agents that are also licensed liquor establishments, as well as create a procedure to incentivize licensed liquor establishments that are not currently licensed lottery sales agents to apply for licensure under the State Lottery Law. All revenue generated by fantasy sports lottery games would be deposited into the State Lottery Fund and be used for programs currently supported by the lottery. I strongly believe that developing fantasy sports as a lottery game, based solely on chance, would place Pennsylvania in the best position to generate new, additional revenue for our seniors while capitalizing on the popularity of sports-based gaming. And incentivizing our licensed liquor establishments to offer this lottery game would be of mutual benefit to our state and our bars and taverns across the Commonwealth. |