Brownback Signs Bill Legalizing Fantasy Sports

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed a bill clarifying the legality of fantasy sports leagues.

Brownback’s office announced he signed the bill into law Tuesday, along with seven other measures.

The legality of fantasy sports leagues has been in dispute because the Kansas Constitution allows only the state to administer games fitting a broad definition of a lottery.

The state’s gambling regulator announced in August that it viewed fantasy sports as illegal lotteries, though there have been no known prosecutions.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt released an opinion in April saying legislators could legalize fantasy sports leagues by declaring that the outcomes depend upon the knowledge and skill of the players. The bill that does so passed with large majorities in each chamber.

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