BRONZEVILLE — A local mom is warning student athletes about the dangers of online fantasy sports — and trying to derail a state bill to legalize industry players like DraftKings and FanDuel.
"Time and time again, these companies assured youth, don’t worry it is 100 percent legal and not gambling, according to their website,” said Rhonda Brown of Bronzeville. “The fact is, at least 14 states have said this is illegal online gambling, including Illinois."
More to the point, in the online petition Brown has created, she says prep and college athletes risk their eligibility unless they refrain "from either legal or illegal sports wagering," and "any violation of this policy can mean an automatic one-year suspension."
Brown said she learned about the dangers when her son, a Mt. Carmel senior football player, was making college visits and considering scholarship offers, as well as National Collegiate Athletic Association eligibility requirements.
Yet state Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago), the sponsor of a legalization bill passed Thursday by the Senate, charged Friday that Brown is serving as the face of the issue for interests trying to get online gaming in on the game.
"I know Rhonda well," said Raoul. "You have to kind of understand what's going on here."
"Behind the scenes, there were more lobbyists employed on this bill than any bill I've seen in some time," he added. While DraftKings and FanDuel were notorious for their rampant spending on advertising in Chicago, at least until Attorney General Lisa Madigan weighed in calling them online gambling in a ruling handed down in December, according to Raoul the big spending in Springfield was "mostly on the other side," especially from online gaming interests trying to either get in on legalization with fantasy sports, or keep everybody out.
"They've been trying to get an internet gaming bill for some time," Raoul said. "They look at it as their opportunity to get internet gaming." That would include industry players representing online poker and horse racing, as well as other forms of internet gambling.
Raoul said his bill, sponsored by state Rep. Michael Zalewski (D-Chicago) in the House, specifically answered Brown's concerns by setting an age limit of 21 and banning college sports from being used in online fantasy.
"Kids can lose their scholarships if somebody buys them a dinner, if somebody gives them a gift. So are we gonna make gift giving in general illegal?" Raoul said. "I would suggest to Ms. Brown that there are a whole lot of things that college athletes can lose their scholarships for."
Yet Brown denied any ulterior motives Friday or any involvement with the gaming industry. "No," she said. "Other kids, other parents need to know this issue."
Brown said, "When you find out about snags like this, that could just totally usurp all of that work, unknowingly, it's extremely frustrating, upsetting."
Online gambling is considered illegal, but fantasy sports sites have stated that they're "games of skill," not chance, an argument online poker firms have thus far been unsuccessful at repeating — and a point Madigan and other opponents continue to question in any case.
"They've been very creative in their arguments," Raoul said of opponents to his bill, "and that's where I think this kids-losing-their-scholarships argument comes from."
Raoul charged that state Sen. Antonio Munoz (D-Chicago) abruptly changed sides this week to a "yes" vote on internet sports fantasy, then quietly filed a motion to reconsider — snagging the measure in a parliamentary delay, at least in the short term, while debate continues in the House.
Madigan maintains her opposition to the sites, but has taken no position on Raoul's bill, as she's in the process of fighting suits filed by DraftKings and FanDuel about her December ruling. According to Raoul, Gov. Bruce Rauner "hasn't weighed in on it" or stated whether he'd sign the bill into law if it clears the General Assembly.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
