Indiana Horse Racing Bill Vetoed, Kansas Closer to Fantasy Sports

Indiana Horse Racing Bill Vetoed, Kansas Closer to Fantasy Sports

“Most Hoosiers know that I oppose an expansion of gaming in Indiana, but I recognize that gaming has become an important part of the economy of many communities in our state and is an important part of our state budget,” Pence said. “From early in the legislative process, I made it clear that I would not stand in the way of reforms that would allow these businesses to remain competitive with surrounding states so long as it did not constitute an expansion of gaming in Indiana.”Kansas Legislature Approves Fantasy Sports Bill

Meanwhile, Kansas has been working quickly towards legalizing games in the state. Both the Kansas House and Senate have passed bills that specifically recognize fantasy sports as legal activities and games of skill.

Under the bill, “fantasy sports leagues” are broadly defined and any contests that fit the definition are noted to be legal. The regulations require that the games can’t be based on the results of actual amateur or professional teams (in fantasy sports, the stats of individual players rather than the overall results of matches or games are used for scoring), and that players must know about all prizes or rewards when they sign up for a contest, with the prizes not changing based on the number of players participating.

Both houses of the state legislature passed the bill easily. The Kansas Senate passed the bill by a nearly unanimous 37-1 vote, while the House also approved the legislation by a comfortable 98-21 margin.

In order to pass into law, the bill will still need the signature of Governor Sam Brownback, though he has not suggested that he would veto the bill.