Assembly gambling committee broadens look at fantasy sports gaming

The Assembly’s gambling committee is expanding its look at online fantasy sports sites beyond football to include many other versions including sites devoted to horse racing and NASCAR, an assemblyman said Tuesday.

Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee Chairman Gary Pretlow said his Dec. 8 hearing on the issue that’s gaining national attention will explore the additional online fantasy sports. He also said the Yahoo! Internet company has called and is expected to testify at the hearing.

Although the hearing was scheduled weeks ago, the importance and the legislation it could produce gained attention in recent days after state Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman started trying to shut down major online fantasy football sites that he claims is illegal gambling.

The companies that operate the sites say they offer games based on skill, not chance, and that means fantasy football contests are not gambling.

“It’s gambling,” said Pretlow (D-Yonkers) in an interview before a meeting of the Assembly’s Democratic majority to prepare for the 2016 session. “Any time you put $2 down and can win $100 it’s gambling.”

Pretlow’s hearing is aimed at legislation that would create oversight and regulations for the popular fantasy sports gaming industry.

“If it’s going to be here,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, “you want to make sure it’s a regulated system.”