Connecticut near DFS regulation

Connecticut governor Dannel Malloy signed the budget plan last Tuesday, which includes DFS regulation, and is close to its implementation.

Connecticut is close to regulating daily fantasy sports (DFS) as the Governor Dannel Malloy signed the 2018-2019 budget, which includes the segment’s regulation. However, DFS will still need tribal approval to avoid going against the compacts with the state’s tribes.

DFS regulation is moving forward in the US and Connecticut is determined to follow states like New England in regulating the segment. The law signed by Gov. Malloy foresees the activity generating US$500k in revenue in 2019 and sets several ground rules such as: 18 is the minimum age to play; the Commissioner of Consumer Protection will have regulatory oversight; operators will pay a registration fee of US$15k or 10 per cent generated from local players; sets a 10.5 per cent tax on revenue generated from Connecticut players.

However, despite taking a major step forward, there’s still the need to get tribal approval to get DFS up and running, as the agreements with the Mohegan and the Mashantucket Pequot give them exclusive rights to conduct gambling. Furthermore, as Legal Sports Report quoted AG George Jepsen, “any legislation authorizing daily fantasy sports contests must be viewed against the backdrop of the existing agreement between the State and the Tribes.”

Therefore, there’s still amendments to do and the need for them to be approved by the General Assembly and the US Department of Interior. Nonetheless, Connecticut has taken a major step towards DFS legalisation and is getting ready to approve it.