New York State Sen. John Bonacic said that an agreement has been reached between both houses of the legislature to "legalize daily fantasy sports" in the state, according to a front-page piece by Tom Precious of the BUFFALO NEWS. Bonacic, who chairs the Committee on Racing, Gaming & Wagering, said, "This was a breakthrough." He noted that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is "seeking to make some 'technical amendments' to the bill." The governor's approval is "needed for any final deal." The deal is not yet available in writing, but Bonacic said that it "lowers a registration fee to $150,000 for a three-year license for the companies." Precious notes smaller DFS companies, "based on their revenue flow over a 12-month period, could pay state registration fees as low as $1,000." Not in the agreed-to bill "was a bid by existing New York racetrack-based casinos to make them the required license holders of any daily fantasy sports offering to residents" (BUFFALO NEWS, 6/8). In N.Y., Jesse McKinley writes the agreement potentially calms a "fractious legal dispute and setting the stage for even wider acceptance of the popular online games." The DFS games "would be classified as games of skill, not chance, an important legal distinction" under a '06 federal law governing online wagering (N.Y. TIMES, 6/8).
IT'S A JERSEY THING: In New Jersey, John Brennan wrote the DFS industry controversy that arose last fall has "led to a bill being presented" at the state capital in Trenton "designed to avoid such issues." A fantasy sports bill also was "approved by a state Assembly committee last week, but curiously missing was the word 'Daily.'" The Senate and Assembly will have to reconcile "slightly different bills before the June 30 deadline." The bigger concern for backers of the bill is "probably getting drowned out by the flurry of bills being worked on" (NORTHJERSEY.com, 6/7).
