PA House Panel To Vote Next Week On Fantasy Sports Regs

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- The chairman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee says he's planning to have his panel vote next week on legislation that would regulate fantasy sports in Pennsylvania.

Appearing before the House Gaming Oversight Committee Tuesday morning, Doug Sherman, the Chief Counsel for the Gaming Control Board, outlined the board's recommendations on how to regulate fantasy sports in Pennsylvania. One key recommendation:

"Authorizing Pennsylvania's existing casinos to offer fantasy sports contests as an amenity."

But Westmoreland County Republican George Dunbar, sponsor of the House bill, favors having the gaming board directly regulate fantasy sports, and not running them through casinos. He says there are more companies than just FanDuel and DraftKings.

"And if we run it through the casinos, those smaller companies will be essentially frozen out of the market."

Another issue raised by the gaming board is whether to allow players between the ages of 18 and 21 to participate in fantasy sports.