Politics
Politics

House votes to tax, regulate fantasy sports

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz (26) throws in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in a spring training baseball game, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Credit: John Raoux

Credit: John Raoux

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz (26) throws in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in a spring training baseball game, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
By Aaron Gould Sheinin
March 1, 2017

The Georgia House on Wednesday voted to approve the first regulations and taxes on daily online fantasy sports leagues.

Lawmakers voted 126-32 to approve House Bill 118, which would make it illegal for anyone 18 or younger to participate in contests on websites like FanDuel or DraftKings. College athletes also would be barred and the bill would levy a 6 percent tax on the companies that run the leagues.

Online sports gaming received scrutiny in 2015 from then-Attorney General Sam Olens, who suggested an investigation into whether daily fantasy sports sites, such as FanDuel and DraftKings, fell under state prohibitions on gambling. Olens' review came after the New York attorney general called for a cease-and-desist order to those companies, saying it constituted illegal gambling under New York state law. New York lawmakers later passed a law regulating the industry.

But the bill's sponsor, Rep. Trey Kelley, R-Cedartown, said these leagues are not gambling but are games of skill.

The bill “clarifies Georgia law for the million-and-a-half Georgians who are playing fantasy sports in our state,” Kelley said. “Daily fantasy sports are games of skill much like a golf tournament or a bass fishing tournament.”

About the Author

Aaron Gould Sheinin
More Stories

Keep Reading

John Love — a member of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO union — holds a sign with other PASS members at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's domestic terminal on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. PASS members at the Federal Aviation Administration working without pay or furloughed share pamphlets to call public attention to the impact of the government shutdown on aviation safety and the personal toll it is taking on their families. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Flight delays likely ‘only going to get worse,’ Transportation head says

The U.S. will stop flights if the air traffic controller shortage leads to safety concerns, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says in TV interviews.

2h ago

Georgia parks raise parking fees — and more price hikes could be on the way

Georgia will boost state park entrance fees in January, and an audit suggests more price hikes could be coming.

Volunteers provide food amid uncertainty over SNAP benefits

Advocates for the hungry across metro Atlanta told similar stories this week as the Trump administration prepared to freeze SNAP benefits amid a federal government shutdown.

The Latest

John Love — a member of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO union — holds a sign with other PASS members at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's domestic terminal on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. PASS members at the Federal Aviation Administration working without pay or furloughed share pamphlets to call public attention to the impact of the government shutdown on aviation safety and the personal toll it is taking on their families. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Flight delays likely ‘only going to get worse,’ Transportation head says

2h ago

Georgia parks raise parking fees — and more price hikes could be on the way

Volunteers provide food amid uncertainty over SNAP benefits

Featured

MARTA's Kensington Station in DeKalb County, seen last month, was the site of a bus collision Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, a MARTA spokesperson said. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

6 report injuries after MARTA buses collide at DeKalb station

A MARTA spokesperson says six passengers are claiming they were hurt when two buses collided as one was pulling out of a stall at Kensington Station.

Georgia parks raise parking fees — and more price hikes could be on the way

Georgia will boost state park entrance fees in January, and an audit suggests more price hikes could be coming.

MARTA and Beltline rail two big transportation items on mayor’s agenda

While reaffirming his commitment to building light rail along the Beltline, Mayor Dickens says the first segment should go where transportation needs are greatest: SW Atlanta.