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Fantasy sports leagues are a 150 billion dollar a year industry nationwide, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, Florida lawmakers at a national conference in Chicago are getting an earful from the industry.

Fans in Chicago can cheer on teams in every major professional sports league, but like Florida, betting on fantasy teams remains a murky part of state law.

The lack of regulation,especially for daily contests is a hot topic nationally. The industry was giving lawmakers a full court press here in the Windy City,

Sot: Jeremy Kudon

Fan-duel Lobbyist

“We don’t want to kill it before it has a chance to thrive” said Jeremy Kudon, a lobbyist for Fan Duel.

Hoping they will clear up the murky status of fantasy games.

Sot: Steve Brubaker

The Small Businesses of Fantasy Sports

“We’ll come talk to you about how that language should be structured” offered Steve Brusker, a lobbyist for smaller operators.

And when it came to money.

“You should feel free not to have a tax at all” Kudon told the crowd, only half jokingly.

Legislation to regulate fantasy sports died in Florida earlier this year.

Florida’s legislation would have required an up front, half million dollar registration fee, followed by an annual hundred thousand dollar renewal.

Florida’s failed proposal would have allowed wagering on amateur contests, and that’s a problem for many at the conference. Maureen Riehl from Multi States Associates advocated for prohibitions on amateur sports betting.

“Let the kids play the games they love without any undue influence. And because  we consider this is similar to other kinds of sports betting, we really want to make sure the kids are protected.”

Broward State Representative Richard Stark was a bit taken back by the hard push from the industry.

“Nation wide its rally the same questions we are dealing with in Florida. Is a special category of gaming different than everything else we have? Is it gaming or not gaming?” asked Stark.

But for now, the fantasy games are unregulated in Florida. Bottom line…bettor beware.

Only one of the nine states to legalize fantasy sports, Virginia,  does not prohibit betting on amateur games.