Virginia today signed into law the “Fantasy Contests Act,” a bill outlining how daily fantasy sport sites like DraftKings and FanDuel can operate legally in the state. The law is the nation’s first formal recognition of the industry after months of heated legal activity in multiple states. Regulators and lawmakers around the country have sought bans on the websites on the grounds they constitute illegal online gambling.
Virginia Becomes First State to Formally Legalize Daily Fantasy Sports
The Virginia law acknowledges the activity as a game of skill, a point of contention in other states.
Scott Olsen / Getty
Alongside undergoing two independent audits every year, fantasy sport sites must pay a $50,000 fee to operate in Virginia, impose policies to ensure all players are 18 years or older and ban employees of fantasy sites from participating in public contests, among other consumer protection measures.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.
See More:
