Lawmakers expect to draft regulations for fantasy sports sites

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- It's a fight over fantasy gambling websites like Fan Duel and Draft Kings.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo told us he expects those businesses to be regulated and he's preparing to do just that. The speaker answered questions on the hot topic with our Political Reporter Sharman Sacchetti at the State House Wednesday.

The speaker told Sacchetti that regulating daily fantasy sports sites could very well fall into his court. But he called it a slippery slope, and said he wouldn't rush it, but he is doing his homework.

And that includes meeting with the attorney general.

When asked if he would be filing any legislation to regulate Draft Kings or those types of sites, he said, "I think we have to do a couple of things first."

And House Speaker Robert DeLeo told us before he does anything, he expects to meet with Attorney General Maura Healey, who is conducting a review of the practices of sites like Draft Kings and Fan Duel.

The speaker also tells us he wants to know whether or not fellow lawmakers even consider it to be gambling.

"I'm not sure there's a comfort level amongst folks as to whether this is gambling or not so we're going to have some work to do on it," he said.

He does say he believes this is something that will need to be regulated, and that any bill would include consumer protections. But he says he wants to move on this carefully. And when I asked about any kind of a deadline, he said there isn't one.

When asked if this should continue to be unregulated for years to come, he said, "No, no, no, I wouldn't say that."

The Mass. Gaming Commission also weighed in and has a meeting Oct. 29 to talk about if online fantasy sports sites are legal and how they should be regulated. But it says the final decisions rest with the governor, lawmakers and the courts.

The speaker said another question that would need to be answered is if the state could tax the industry. We tried talking with the attorney general about this, but she would not make herself available.

Cox Media Group