Interstate pooling has other potential conflicts. One is how taxes would be calculated. Another is that these sites operate in several states where there is a difference of opinion on legality. Another is that automation not available to all violates NV law (scripting at DFS might equal HUDs at WSOP.com).

It seems impossible to think these sites could get a NV gaming license while at the same time operating in 44 other states without one. MI and FL already have on record opinions that the activity is probably illegal, though I don't suppose those are legally binding, it is a cause for concern.

The NV licensing process is thorough. Making illegal sports bets or doing drugs recreationally on vacation have caused conflicts for people in the past. The same goes for suspicious bank transactioms. That discovery process might uncover insider secrets these sites don't want exposed. Then you have to submit your software for evaluation. You have to open your books and banking completely. Rev share affiliate agreements might also need certification like they do for online poker. That is just a sample.

This all seems like a lot of trouble and expense for a DFS site to expand its reach by 1% or so. Maybe a site would do it for the sole purpose of bragging that it was the first licensed DFS site. Amaya comes to mind there.

I think it is safe to say that DFS is dead in NV without a change in state law. The legislature doesn't meet again until 2017. I doubt this will be any sort of priority. There is no telling what the industry will look like by then either.

While I realize that Nevada is one of the smaller states, and likely the NGC wants a piece of the pie, I do wonder what happens to things like the Draft Kings sponsorship of the WSOP? I assume the contract is already in place, but will it be legal for them to advertise?

What about Nevada-based employees of Draft Kings, Fan Duel, etc.?

Speculative opinion here but I don't see why DFS can't advertise at WSOP. They aren't violating NV law as they left the state.

Party Poker sponsored WSOP after UIGEA. It didn't take NV players and wasn't licensed everywhere it operated but was generally believed to be legal in all jurisdictions. I don't see why DK is different than that scenario.

Maybe they can resurrect Chris "Jesus" Fergusson and have him do some ads for "Play for free on DraftKings.NET"

FU I liked those full tilt commercials with the jesus

..seriously though, pretty big news.

good luck with that. not sure you understand how gaming regulators work or the powers they have.

Each state has to right to regulate gambling in their state.

DFS is Gambling.

In my mind, NGCB's position and influence as a gaming regulator within the media and the industry is a totally different issue than the state gaming regulators willing to work together toward promotion of online poker.

apples and oranges

I was simply calling out your assertion that NGCB action didn't matter in anything other than terms of lost liquidity.

Do you still believe that?


Couple things to consider about that.

1) This is a 12-18month process

2) If you are not a public company then everyone that owns any shares is required to go through personal investigations (one of the reasons most gaming companies are public)

3) If you are public, then only officers and directors PLUS owners with more than 5% (sometimes 10%) ownership might also have to get licensed.

4) #2 and or #3 would drag in MLB and other DFS site owners/investors in the licensing / investigation process

I'll let others decide how likely it is any of the major DFS sites choose to go thru the above.

Now we know how non-poker players view poker (as gambling). Look at how many times in this thread someone says DFS is gambling - and people on 2+2 are at least a little better informed than the average public.

Like someone else said its defo gambling with some skill involved. Had a nice unfettered run till ethans misstep to the tune of having 2 billion plus wagered. Shot themselves in the foot and will most likely wind up like Plaxico Buress in the coming months.

Fbi investigating will most likely carry over to the skill game issue and may have negative ramifications with fan duel and draftkings being able to operate freely. **** is going to hit the fan like it did with online poker. Pokerstars snap folded when things where spelled out and poker was no longer a gray area in terms of sites like pokerstars offering it. I would much rather be able to play poker and against row then fantasy sports. But seriously when people are spending 2 billlion and a very small percentage are significant winners other then the sites and the exorbitant rake they take in, can't really call that a skill game.

LOL. True believer.

Not necessarily. What this finding does is bring into focus the charade that DFS is not gambling.

What this means is that the NFL, NBA and other leagues cannot freely have it both ways, litigating against New Jersey's right to legalize sports-betting, while making money in DFS by pretending its "not sports gambling".

Under the Third Circuit case on appeal by New Jersey, the NFL thus far has successfully blocked New Jersey legalization of sports gambling, just as the League did versus Delaware earlier.

The NFL seems pressed now to argue that DFS is somehow different enough from "sports gambling" that regulation by States somehow passes muster under PASPA or they will need a new DFS carveout at the federal level.

The NFL should step back and realize the Leagues CAN have the benefits of increased viewer interest, touted by DFS, by simply supporting legalized sports betting. (The NBA seems to have had that epiphany already.)

The Leagues should support a new acronym, a re-tooled RAWA legislation to Repeal America's Wire Act.

You can read the language in the uigea and see that it allows these fantasy contests whether it's gambling or not. Don't think it's necessarily relevant to the issue. If they go down this path they have to declare full season leagues illegal also...

I play Dfs but I don't bet sports. I'm sure some other people are the opposite (bet sports, don't play Dfs). It would probably be beneficial for sports leagues to have both but as long as the nfl has its current commissioner they will not admit that.

That's the only good news for keeping Dfs around in the rest of the country...the sports leagues like it so I'm sure they will have some influence in keeping it around in some parts of the country.

It's looking really bad in Florida too.

Boycott Vegas? I'd think a DFS player boycott could hurt their tourism as most who play are probably more likely to go to Vegas than those who don't , I doubt we could get enough players to agree on it though.

NV was the first state to legalize poker. DFS is blatantly breaking the law. It only exists because of some bull**** carve out that suggests it's a game of skill when anyone with a brain knows it's not. Why would you suggest to ban Vegas??? This will only help poker as it actually is a game of skill that DFS is not.

It is a game of skill though... So is poker. Both should be legal.

The thing about Florida is dfs is going to live and die with a state like that.

I'm already reading that money is flying around like crazy to make sure FL keeps DFS.

These sites can't afford to lose a FL, NY, etc. Nevada isn't really a big deal.

I'm definitely being optimistic but I don't think FL DFS is going anywhere. And if it does I think that's the beginning of the end for the whole thing.

Yup. This was the first domino. DFS is done. Hopefully this event helps bring more light to poker since it actually IS a game of skill. If a bunch of people start bitching about their DFS being taken away then poker has to be considered as it has more right to exist than DFS.

I'm shocked they allow people to gamble on individual amateur players on DFS. That's just wrong.

i'm not sure, but i think you both try to say the same thing ... besides that Gzesh's argument is based on the PASPA.


i'm only a layman with this whole 'stuff', so maybe you can help me with this

- didn't Delaware 'opt in' back then. i thought there are 3 or 4 other states (besides nevada) who could offer sports betting, but they just don't?

I'm in Florida and am in full blown panic mode. Withdrawing almost all my money after this weekend

I think this is similar to what happened to UBER in vegas DFS isnt going to get the support of the sportsbooks, if it comes down to a group of old fogies deciding if they want to allow DFS something they dont understand but see as some type of competition to the state bottom line the answer will be no, DFS have any experience going rouge?

Even if it gets banned you'll be able to get your money out so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

But honestly I understand your concern. I just can't imagine it being easy for them to drop Florida.

Florida will be the fight for the whole industry basically. The other states that aren't allowed aren't very important to these sites. This will be the first time you see lobbyists and money in full support. This won't be the instaban like the others were.

After my best week ever. Now stuck. Unbelievable.

Now only ROW players can play DFS a american based concept LOLOLOLOLOL..... living in merica yeah gotta fight livin in merica yeah all night

Great question, seriously.

Yes, four States were grandfathered in, including Nevada and Delaware. (If I recall correctly, New Jersey and other States had 1 year to opt-in to legalize, but NJ sat on its hands.)

Delaware tried a couple of years ago to expand into straight-up sportsbetting, but was blocked by litigation brought by the NFL, which claimed that Delaware could only provide the same sort of "sportsbetting" that had been authorized by the State and was grandfathered in. In the case of Delaware, this meant lottery-type sports gambling. (This was a truly nitty ruling against Delaware, but effective in limiting Delaware to what was authorized back in 1991.)

THAT Delaware case and NFL position may really haunt the League if the issue of a State "authorizing" DFS ever is litigated under PASPA. Presumably PASPA is to be read very strictly, (thank you, NFL), and only sportsbetting that was authorized "way back when" is grandfathered

(Nevada by statute expressly, and broadly authorized regulating and offering sportsbetting by "any method" even "way back when". A really nice example of how to remain open to industry development, even while regulating operations.)

What further complicates the DFS as gambling issue in New Jersey is that, a few years ago, New Jersey went ahead and declared Fantasy Sports to NOT be gambling.