HB580 (2017) Detail

(Second New Title) relative to fantasy sports contests.


CHAPTER 247

HB 580-FN-A - FINAL VERSION

 

8Mar2017... 0657h

05/31/2017   2008s

22Jun2017... 2337CofC

22Jun2017... 2388EBA

2017 SESSION

17-0527

08/10

 

HOUSE BILL 580-FN-A

 

AN ACT relative to fantasy sports contests.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Azarian, Rock. 8; Rep. Ohm, Hills. 36; Rep. Eaton, Ches. 3; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19

 

COMMITTEE: Ways and Means

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill allows participation in fantasy sports contests for money.

 

This bill also requires fantasy sports contest operators to register with the lottery commission.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

8Mar2017... 0657h

05/31/2017   2008s

22Jun2017... 2337-CofC

22Jun2017... 2388EBA 17-0527

08/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT relative to fantasy sports contests.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

247:1  New Subparagraph; Exemption of Fantasy Sports Contests.  Amend RSA 647:2, V by inserting after subparagraph (c) the following new subparagraph:

(d)  The conduct of fantasy sports contests.  For purposes of this section, the term "fantasy sports contest" means a fantasy or simulated game or contest, with or without an entry fee, in which one or more players compete against each other and winning outcomes reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the players and are determined predominantly by accumulated statistical results of the performance of individuals, including athletes in the case of sporting events.

247:2  New Section; Fantasy Sports Contests; Exempt.  Amend RSA 338 by inserting after section 4 the following new section:

338:5  Fantasy Sports Contests Exempt.  This chapter shall not apply to fantasy sports contests.  For purposes of this chapter, the term "fantasy sports contest" means a fantasy or simulated game or contest, with or without an entry fee, in which one or more players compete against each other and winning outcomes reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the players and are determined predominantly by accumulated statistical results of the performance of individuals, including athletes in the case of sporting events.

247:3  New Chapter; Fantasy Sports Contests.  Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 287-G the following new chapter:

CHAPTER 287-H

FANTASY SPORTS CONTESTS

287-H:1  Definitions.  In this chapter:

I.  "Beginner" means a fantasy sports contest player who has entered fewer than 51 contests offered by a single fantasy sports contest operator and who does not otherwise meet the definition of highly-experienced player.

II.  "Commission" means the New Hampshire lottery commission.

III.  "Entry fee" means cash or cash equivalent that is required to be paid by a fantasy sports contest player to a fantasy sports contest operator to participate in a fantasy sports contest.

IV.  "Fantasy sports contest" means a fantasy or simulated game or contest in which one or more players compete against each other and winning outcomes reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the players and are determined predominantly by accumulated statistical results of the performance of individuals, including athletes in the case of sporting events.

V.  "Fantasy sports contest operator" means a person that offers fantasy sports contests with an entry fee for a cash prize to the general public.

VI.  "Fantasy sports contest player" means a person who participates in a fantasy sports contest offered by a fantasy sports contest operator.

VII.(a)  "Highly experienced player" means a person who has either:

(1)  Entered more than 1,000 fantasy contests offered by a single fantasy sports contest operator; or

(2)  Won more than 3 fantasy sports contest prizes valued at $1,000 or more from a single fantasy sports contest operator.  

(b)  Upon making a determination that a player is a highly experienced player, the fantasy sports contest operator shall continue to classify the player as a highly experienced player indefinitely.

VIII.  "Script" means a list of commands that a computer program can execute to automate processes with respect to a fantasy sports contest.

287-H:2  Registration with the Commission.

I.  No fantasy sports contest operator shall offer any fantasy sports contests with an entry fee in this state without first being registered with the commission.  However, a fantasy sports contest operator that offered fantasy sports contests in this state prior to the effective date of this chapter may continue to offer fantasy sports contests with an entry fee in this state, provided such operator files an application for registration with the commission within 60 days of the application's availability, and may continue to offer fantasy sports contests until such application for registration has been approved or denied.

II.  Before obtaining a registration to offer fantasy sports contests in this state, a fantasy sports contest operator shall be authorized to transact business in this state.

III.  An application for registration pursuant to this section shall include the following information:

(a)  The name of the applicant;

(b)  The location of the applicant’s principal place of business;

(c)  The place where and the date when the applicant was legally established and the form of its organization;

(d)  The names and addresses of all principal salaried executive officers;

(e)  The name and address of any shareholder holding 5 percent or more of the equity interests of the applicant;

(f)  The applicant’s criminal record, if any, or, if the applicant is a business entity, the criminal records, if any, of all principal salaried executive officers; and

(g)  Information sufficient to show that the applicant is in good standing with the department of revenue administration.  

IV.  The commission shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A implementing the provisions of this chapter, which shall include the adoption of an application form for registration.  The commission shall not adopt rules limiting the digital platforms offered by registered fantasy sports contest operators, or the type or structure of fantasy sports contests offered by registered fantasy sports contest operators, to the extent that such fantasy sports contests are otherwise offered in a manner consistent with this chapter.

287-H:3  Consumer Protection.

I.  As a condition of registration, a fantasy sports contest operator shall submit evidence satisfactory to the commission that the operator has established and shall implement commercially reasonable procedures for fantasy sports contests with an entry fee that:

(a)  Prevent employees of the fantasy sports contest operator, and relatives living in the same household as such employees, from competing in any fantasy sports contest offered by any fantasy sports contest operator in which the operator offers a prize to the general public;

(b)  Prevent sharing of confidential information that could affect such fantasy sports contest play with third parties until the information is made publicly available;

(c)  Prevent the fantasy sports contest operator from participating in such fantasy sports contest he or she offers;

(d)  Provide that no winning outcome is based on the score, point spread, or any performance of any single actual sports team or combination of such teams or solely on any single performance of an individual athlete or participant in any single actual sporting event;

(e)  Prohibit the following persons from participating in any fantasy sports contest:

(1)  Athletes and individuals who participate or officiate in a game or competition that is the subject of the fantasy sports contest;

(2)  Any sports agent, team employee, referee, or league official associated with a sport or athletic event that is the subject of the fantasy sports contest.

(f)  Verify that a fantasy sports contest player in such a fantasy sports contest is 18 years of age or older;

(g)  Provide fantasy sports contest players with access to information on responsible play;

(h)  Provide fantasy sports contest players with access to information on seeking assistance for compulsive behavior;

(i)  Provide fantasy sports contest players with access to the fantasy sports contest player's play history and account details;

(j)  Allow individuals to restrict themselves from entering such a fantasy sports contest upon request and provide reasonable steps to prevent the person from entering such fantasy sports contests offered by the fantasy sports contest operator;

(k)  Disclose the number of entries that a fantasy sports contest player may submit to each such fantasy sports contest and provide reasonable steps to prevent players from submitting more than the allowable number; and

(l)  Take reasonable steps to not advertise or run promotional activities at elementary or secondary schools or on college campuses.

II.  The information required to be submitted pursuant to paragraph I or paragraph IV shall be exempt from disclosure pursuant to RSA 91-A:5, IV.

III.  A fantasy sports contest operator shall not offer fantasy sports contests based on the performances of participants in collegiate, high school, or youth athletic events.

IV.  A fantasy sports contest operator offering fantasy sports contests with an entry fee in this state shall contract with a third party to annually perform an independent audit to confirm compliance with the standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and submit the results of such audit to the commission;

V.  A fantasy sports contest operator shall not offer a fantasy sports contest to the general public that does not establish and make known all prizes and awards offered to winning participants in advance of the game or contest.

VI.  A fantasy sports contest operator offering fantasy sports contests with an entry fee in this state shall not target minors or individuals who have requested a restriction.

VII.  A fantasy sports contest operator offering fantasy sports contests with an entry fee in this state shall:

(a)  Prohibit the use of scripts in fantasy sports contests that give any fantasy sports contest player an unfair advantage over other fantasy sports contest players;

(b)  Monitor fantasy sports contests to detect the use of unauthorized scripts and restrict fantasy sports contest players found to have used such scripts from participation in further fantasy sports contests;

(c)  Make all authorized scripts readily available to all fantasy sports contest players; provided, that a licensed operator shall clearly and conspicuously publish its rules on what types of scripts may be authorized in a fantasy sports contest.

VIII.  Funds in fantasy sports contest operator consumer accounts shall be:

(a)  Held in trust for the consumer in a segregated account, in which case the fantasy sports contest operator shall segregate fantasy sports contest player funds from operational funds or maintain a reserve that exceeds the amount of player funds on deposit, which reserve shall not be used for operational activities.  These reserve funds may take the form of cash, cash equivalents, payment processor reserves, payment processor receivables, an irrevocable letter of credit, a bond, or a combination thereof, in the amount that shall exceed the total balances of the fantasy sports contest players' accounts; or

(b)  Held in a special purpose account that is maintained and controlled by a properly constituted corporate entity that is not the fantasy sports contest operator and whose governing board includes one or more corporate directors who are independent of the fantasy sports contest operator and of any corporation related to or controlled by the fantasy sports contest operator.  Said corporate entity shall require a unanimous vote of all corporate directors to file bankruptcy and shall have articles of incorporation that prohibit commingling of funds with those of the fantasy sports contest operator except as necessary to reconcile the accounts of fantasy sports contest players with sums owed by those fantasy sports contest players to the fantasy sports contest operator.  Said special purpose corporate entity shall also be:

(1)  Restricted from incurring debt other than to fantasy sports contest players pursuant to the rules that govern their accounts with fantasy sports contest operators;

(2)  Restricted from taking on obligations of the fantasy sports contest operator other than obligations to fantasy sports contest players pursuant to the rules that govern their accounts with fantasy sports contest operators; and

(3)  Prohibited from dissolving, merging, or consolidating with another company, other than a special purpose corporate entity established by another fantasy sports contest operator that meets the requirements of this section, while there are unsatisfied obligations to fantasy sports contest players.

IX.  Fantasy sports contest operators shall clearly and conspicuously identify highly experienced players in fantasy sports contests by a symbol attached to a player's username, or by other easily visible means.  Fantasy sports contest operators shall offer some fantasy sports contests that are open exclusively to beginner players and that exclude highly experienced players.

287-H:4  Penalty.  Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation, not to exceed $5,000 for violations arising out of the same transaction or occurrence, which shall accrue to the state and may be recovered in a civil action brought by the commission.

247:4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

 

Approved: July 18, 2017

Effective Date: July 18, 2017

 

 

 

Links


Date Body Type
Jan. 31, 2017 House Hearing
Feb. 7, 2017 House Hearing
Feb. 28, 2017 House Exec Session
March 8, 2017 House Floor Vote
April 5, 2017 Senate Hearing
April 20, 2017 Senate Floor Vote
May 9, 2017 Senate Hearing
May 31, 2017 Senate Floor Vote
June 15, 2017 Senate Floor Vote
June 22, 2017 Senate Floor Vote
June 22, 2017 House Floor Vote

Bill Text Revisions

HB580 Revision: 846 Date: July 20, 2017, 10:44 a.m.
HB580 Revision: 847 Date: June 29, 2017, 12:12 p.m.
HB580 Revision: 848 Date: June 22, 2017, 9:33 a.m.
HB580 Revision: 849 Date: April 4, 2017, 8:19 a.m.
HB580 Revision: 850 Date: Jan. 25, 2017, 3:20 p.m.

Docket


July 18, 2017: Signed by Governor Sununu 07/18/2017; Chapter 247; Eff. 7/18/2017


June 22, 2017: Enrolled 06/22/2017 HJ 19 P. 27


June 22, 2017: Enrolled (In recess 06/22/2017); SJ 20


June 22, 2017: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2017-2388e: AA VV 06/22/2017 HJ 19 P. 26


June 22, 2017: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2017-2388e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/22/2017); SJ 20


June 22, 2017: Conference Committee Report 2337c: Adopted, VV 06/22/2017 HJ 19 P. 21


June 22, 2017: Conference Committee Report # 2017-2337c, Adopted, VV; 06/22/2017; SJ 20


June 15, 2017: Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2017-2337c; 06/15/2017


: Conferee Change; Senator Morse Replaces Senator Sanborn; SJ 20


June 14, 2017: Conference Committee Meeting: 06/14/2017 11:00 AM LOB 202


June 8, 2017: President Appoints: Senators Sanborn, Bradley, Feltes; 06/08/2017; SJ 19


June 8, 2017: Sen. Sanborn Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; 06/08/2017; SJ 19


June 8, 2017: Speaker Appoints: Reps. Azarian, Abrami, Ohm, Ames 06/08/2017 HJ 18 P. 2


June 8, 2017: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2008s and Requests CofC (Rep. Major): MA VV 06/08/2017 HJ 18 P. 2


May 31, 2017: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2017-2008s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/31/2017; SJ 18


May 31, 2017: Committee Amendment # 2017-2008s, AA, VV; 05/31/2017; SJ 18


May 31, 2017: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2017-2008s, 05/31/2017; SC 25


May 9, 2017: Hearing: 05/09/2017, Room 103, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 22


April 20, 2017: Ought to Pass: RC 20Y-3N, MA; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 04/20/2017; SJ 14


April 20, 2017: Sen. Sanborn Floor Amendment # 2017-1466s, RC 4Y-19N, AF; 04/20/2017; SJ 14


April 20, 2017: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/20/2017; SC 19


April 5, 2017: Hearing: 04/05/2017, Room 100, SH, 09:45 am; SC 17


March 9, 2017: Introduced 03/09/2017 and Referred to Ways and Means; SJ 9


March 8, 2017: Ought to Pass with Amendment 0657h: MA VV 03/08/2017 HJ 9 P. 49


March 8, 2017: Amendment # 2017-0657h: AA VV 03/08/2017 HJ 9 P. 49


March 8, 2017: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2017-0657h (NT) for 03/08/2017 (Vote 22-0; CC)


Feb. 28, 2017: Executive Session: 02/28/2017 LOB 202


Feb. 22, 2017: Subcommittee Work Session: 02/22/2017 09:00 AM LOB 202


Feb. 7, 2017: ==CONTINUED== Public Hearing: 02/07/2017 10:00 AM LOB 202


Jan. 31, 2017: ==RECESSED== Public Hearing: 01/31/2017 11:00 AM LOB 202


Jan. 5, 2017: Introduced 01/05/2017 and referred to Ways and Means HJ 3 P. 20