The Florida Gaming Control Commission in September sent cease-and-desist letters to three fantasy sports operators, threatening legal action if the π³ sites didn't immediately stop.
But Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, wants the commission to explain why the businesses were targeted and to π³ clarify why they could be breaking the law while the biggest players in the industry - DraftKings and FanDuel - π³ aren't. The senator raised the issues in a Dec. 18 letter to the commission's executive director, Lou Trombetta.
Gruters pointed to π³ the cease-and-desist letters Trombetta sent to Underdog Sports, LLC; SidePrize LLC, also known as Performance Predictions LLC, doing business as π³ PrizePicks; and Betr Holdings, Inc.
Gruters' letter asked why "the two largest fantasy sports operators" in Florida did not receive similar π³ threats from the commission.
"The letters definitively state that 'betting or wagering on the result of contests of skill ... including π³ fantasy sports betting, is strictly prohibited and constitutes a felony offense.' Notably, however, the commission's public position is less definitive. π³ In the FAQs (frequently asked questions) on the commission's website, the commission states that 'wagering on fantasy sports' is 'probably π³ not' legal. I am concerned that the commission is applying an interpretation that is not supported by law and that π³ the commission may be selectively enforcing its interpretation," Gruters wrote.