Mississippi has become the latest state in the USA to legalise daily fantasy sports by passing a bill which regulates such activities until at least July 2017.
Senate Bill 2541 was signed last week by Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and it legalises daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests until July next year, when the state will reconsider the move.
The new bill is effective from the first of July and it prohibits DFS operators and their immediate families in the state from playing in fantasy sport contests.
Players have to be of at least 18 years of age and will have the option to exclude themselves from contests at any time, while DFS companies will be required to segregate operating fund from player funds.
The bill will enable Mississippi to create a task force that will deliver a series recommendations on regulations and fees to Governor Bryant by October 15 2023.
Confirmation of the Senate Bill 2541 comes after daily fantasy sports industry leaders DraftKings and FanDuel withdrew from the state in February after Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood argued that daily fantasy sports constituted illegal gambling. Both operators are now supporting the new bill and applaud the state’s decision.
FanDuel spokesperson Emily Bass said the bill took a “deliberate and reasonable approach to legislating fantasy sports”, while DraftKings spokesman added that the firm will “work with legislators in Jackson to establish a framework to allow hundreds of thousands of Mississippians to continue to play the fantasy sports contests they love”.
