Some Worry Fantasy Sports Leagues Cross Line From Fun Into Gambling
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Fantasy sports leagues are everywhere, and now, some are way more involved than you and your buddies drafting, trading and keeping score.
Websites like Draft Kings and Fan Duel offer the potential of big payouts, but do they cross the line into gambling?
If you watch pro football, you've seen the ads. And if you play fantasy football, you've probably already signed up.
Fans like Norm Candelore have found a new obsession -- picking teams and competing with thousands of others for jackpots high as a million dollars.
"Antonio Brown is, of course, my wide receiver. Michael Crabtree is my other wide receiver," says Candelore.
"Last week, I got lucky," he added. "I won a little bit."
KDKA's Andy Sheehan: "What did you win?"
Candelore: "$185."
But is it gambling? Fantasy sports are exempt from federal online gaming laws.
While the NFL and Major League Baseball have strict prohibitions against betting on games, dozens of teams, including the Pirates and the Steelers have formed partnerships with the online sites.
The NFL says those agreements mostly revolve around digital advertising and stadium signage and don't allow the use of team or league logos.
Said an NFL spokesman says: "There is no change in our long-standing position against the proliferation of gambling on our games, daily fantasy is considered a game of skill. There's no league sponsorship agreement or investment in those companies."
But the sudden and staggering popularity of the sites, fueled by millions of dollars in advertising, has Congress and state legislatures asking questions.
But while Rep. Dom Costa, who sits on the state House Oversight Gaming Committee, wants a thorough review, at this point he doesn't think they should be shut down or taxed.
"I believe that right now, most of the people that are doing it are doing it for fun. There's football pools out there. Next thing you know, what are we going to do? Go in every tavern and see if they have a football pool?" said Costa.
"Hey, look, you want to get in trouble, you can get in trouble with anything. I bet $25 a week. That's my limit," said Candelore. "Most of the time, I'm not winning."
But right now, Draft Kings and Fan Duel sit in a gray area somewhere between fun and gambling. And the more popular they become, the more scrutiny they will invite until lawmakers are satisfied they are one or the other.
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