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Washington to regulate fantasy football? Say it ain't so!

Posted by Jonathan Bechtle - July 14, 2010

About four years ago I was invited by one of my coworkers to join a fantasy football league, and though I knew next to nothing about the game, figured it was worth the old college try. It quickly became a passion (an obsession, if you ask my wife), and just last week I set up teams in three different leagues, one of which I run.
 
So it piqued my interest when I ran across House Bill 3134, introduced by Representative Marko Liias during the 2010 session. The title of the bill reads, "Regulating sports pool boards, bracket pools, and fantasy sports leagues." If passed, the bill would allow you to operate a fantasy league without a permit if observed the following rules:
 
  • All money paid in entry fees would have to all go to the winner (no dividing of the pot);
  • League records would have to be made available for inspection by the gambling commission or law enforcement officers upon demand at any time;
  • The total amount of wagers placed by all entrants cannot exceed $100; and
  • The league has to conform to any other rules created to enforce the gambling statutes
I understand the state's desire to regulate gambling establishments. But I'm running a little fantasy football league with my coworkers. With no money involved. And yet Representatives Liias, Brendan Williams, Geoff Simpson and Kevin Van De Wege wanted to give government 24/7 access to my league records? Thankfully this bill didn't progress past introduction, but that provides little comfort knowing that this kind of overreaching legislation is the norm, rather than the exception.
 

Thoughts?   Add Comment -

Aaron S said on Jul 14 2010 at 5:25pm
For years only two forms of sports betting have been strictly legal in WA State: a straight-up bet between two parties where the loser pays the winner directly, and a "sports board" costing no more than $1 per square (free is ok) where winners are determined by comparing the score (by quarter, half and/or final) to a grid with randomly drawn numbers.

http://www.wsgc.wa.gov/newsletters/5-206.pdf

Another case of government needlessly protecting us from ourselves and our own choices.

Piper Scott said on Jul 15 2010 at 9:25pm
Perhaps it's time to look into the background of one or more of those in public office who want to control our every move.

iotollah said on Jul 16 2010 at 6:36am
Look at it this way -

The State hasn't failed with this mission, yet. They can reintroduce this bill while we're sleeping and accomplish the following...

The State creates a jobs program for a couple-three (hundred) investig.. er, facilitators, and

The State gets to tax players on the way in, on their earnings, and charge fees - to pay for the investig.. er, facilitators, and

The State gets to protect the people it cares about most: the Indi.. er, native American gambling establishments - who likely will field that State's board of investig.. er, facilitators, and

The little guy who simply wants to set up a small entertainment venue gets the same treatment the rest of businesses in Washington are getting -- with a complimentary roll of sandpaper toilet paper.

Perhaps, like Boeing, if we want to run our little pools or run a large business, we'll just have to check-in with South Carolina.

my name is Ben said on Jul 18 2010 at 11:42pm
Hey Jonathan,

What are you hiding in those "League Records" that you want them to be so secretive?????

Fredrick Hinkledorf said on Jul 21 2010 at 12:36am
Ben, you have a warrant?? :)