6th Jan 2017 | FORBES.COM

On Monday, the State of Maryland officially implemented new regulations for the daily fantasy sports industry. Unlike some of the rules promulgated by other states, Maryland’s new rules are fair, reasonable and intelligently executed — taking into account the broad concerns expressed by various constituent groups.

As first reported by Dustin Gouker of Legal Sports Report, Maryland’s new daily fantasy sports rules have several important components. First, Maryland does not require daily fantasy sports operators to complete any registration process or pay any registration fee. This makes it easier for newer and smaller players to operate daily fantasy sports contests in Maryland. It is in direct contrast with the Indiana and Virginia laws that require daily fantasy sports companies to pay upwards of $50,000 in licensing fees — squeezing out all but the largest companies from the daily fantasy market.

Second, the new Maryland regulations set the minimum age to enter daily fantasy sports contests at 18 — the age of majority within the state. This age requirement places Maryland’s rules in line with most of the other states, including Indiana, Colorado, Missouri, New York, Tennessee, and Virginia. Meanwhile, Massachusetts regulations mandate that daily fantasy sports participants have obtained at least the age of 21.
Third, Maryland’s new fantasy sports rules prohibit “employees, principals, officers, directors or contractors” of daily fantasy sports companies from participating in these contests. These restrictions of those affiliated with daily fantasy sports “agents” are essentially identical to the restrictions imposed by Missouri law but stricter than other states.

Fourth, Maryland’s rules disallow daily fantasy sports contests from using data related to college sports. Colorado, Indiana, Missouri and New York have a nearly identical requirements prohibiting college daily fantasy sports. Meanwhile, the Tennessee and Virginia laws have no such limitation.