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S6092Senate2015-2016 Session

Excludes participation in any fantasy or simulation sports game or educational game or contest meeting certain conditions from the definition of contest of chance

Sponsor Michael H. RanzenhoferSD-61Affects Legal
Status
In Senate Committee
Codes
Impact
Pending
Passage
Pending

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Codes

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Who cares

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Michael H. Ranzenhofer

Senator · Senate District 61

Chair, Corporations, Authorities And Commissions

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. Referred to codes
  2. Referred to rules

Full text

The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the penal law, in relation to excluding participation in any fantasy or simulation sports game or educational game or contest meeting certain conditions from the definition of "contest of chance"

Purpose or general idea of bill

To clarify that certain skill games that meet specific criteria are not games of chance.

Summary of specific provisions

Section One - Amends subdivision 1 of Section 225.00 of the Penal Law, which is the definition of "contest of chance" to specifically indicate that so-called fantasy or simulated sports games or educational games or contests shall not be considered a contest of chance for the purposes of the Penal Law.

Section Two - Effective date.

Justification

This bill uses the same language used in the federal law regulating internet gaming to exclude fantasy sports leagues that meet certain criteria which make them games of skill rather than games of chance. Recently the Attorney General has indicated that he believes that fantasy football sites are illegal gambling sites, in contradiction to federal law, and in apparent contradiction to the current definition of a contest of chance. This bill simply seeks to clarify, using federal language, that fantasy sports team activities are games of skill rather than games of chance. Time and time again, New York has stood in the way, whether by overregulation or outright banning of activities that are legal and enjoyed in most states across the country. It is important at this time to clarify that participation in fantasy skill games is legal and to protect the rights of businesses and individuals who wish to engage in this type of commerce.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.