The Missouri Gaming Commission sent a memo to licensed fantasy sports operators in the state this week, directing them to cease and desist offering against-the-house pick’em contests.
The memo, obtained by LSR, is dated March 19 and sent from Missouri Gaming Commission general counsel Nikki D. Evans.
It states only peer-to-peer fantasy sports pick’em contests are allowed under state law.
Player vs. house fantasy sports ban
Evans explains in the memo that player vs. house fantasy contests too closely mirror sports betting parlays under state rules.
“The Commission has maintained that fantasy sports contests pursuant to Missouri law are those that are peer to peer and not subject to the operator being the winning participant,” the memo reads.
“Accordingly, if any MGC-licensed Fantasy Sports Contest Operators are presently offering platforms that consist of player vs. house contests in which the operator could ultimately be the winning participant, Pick’Em contests, parlay-type contests, or other contests that have the effect of mimicking sports wagering, the Commission would direct that these Operators cease and desist those offerings and only offer peer to peer contests in Missouri that are consistent with state statutes, rules, and regulations.”
Colorado to decide fate of pick’em
Missouri is the latest state to crack down on player vs. house pick’em.
Colorado could be the next one to ban those contests.
PrizePicks urged customers to contact lawmakers in the state in order to save them.
AG in Massachusetts sends letters
Massachusetts sent cease and desist letters to 10 fantasy operators, demanding that they stop offering against the house pick’em contests. PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy did not receive letters because they switched to peer to peer contests.
All 10 operators are now in compliance, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office told LSR.
Underdog also switched recently from player vs. house to peer-to-peer contests in Arizona.
