{"id":542,"date":"2015-12-04T02:31:57","date_gmt":"2015-12-04T02:31:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.racingbetting.com\/?p=542"},"modified":"2024-09-25T09:54:03","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T14:54:03","slug":"derby-wars-lawsuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ycgts.shop\/derby-wars-lawsuit\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantasy Horse Racing Site Derby Wars Facing Lawsuit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The Paulick Report broke some interesting news<\/a> that a number of race tracks based in the United States and owned by the Stronach Group filed a lawsuit in California earlier today against fantasy horse racing site DerbyWars.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n At the heart of the suit is a complaint that Derby Wars effectively offers unlicensed horse racing betting. The UIGEA and other pieces of anti-gaming legislation specifically exempt horse racing betting, but only for operators who have the proper state licensing. For example, BetAmerica<\/a> and TwinSpires<\/a> are both authorized to book real money horse racing wagers<\/a> in most US states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Derby Wars does not have the proper licensing, but it also doesn\u2019t offer traditional horse racing betting. Instead, it hosts real money fantasy contests in which your goal is to assemble a \u201cteam\u201d of horses and then earn fantasy points based on each horse\u2019s performance in real world races. When your team outscores the teams built by other contestants, you win a real money prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nonetheless, the Stronach Group argues that the product offered by Derby Wars is effectively gambling. Thus, the lawsuit alleges that Derby Wars is in violation of the Interstate Horseracing Act and offering wagers without a California, Florida, Maryland or Oregon license among other charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The complaint further seeks damages for depriving tracks of the revenue that \u201cthey are entitled for bets placed on races run at the meets that they operate, in an amount to be determined at trial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The timing of this lawsuit is probably no coincidence considering the questions that have been raised over other daily fantasy sports apps<\/a> such as FanDuel and DraftKings. Just recently, the Nevada Gaming Control Board declared<\/a> that fantasy sports meet the state\u2019s definition of gambling. Meanwhile in New York state, the attorney general there ordered<\/a> fantasy sites to stop doing business in the state because they also meet that state\u2019s definition of gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fantasy horse racing sites<\/a> such as Derby Wars and others have long relied on the fantasy sports carveout provided by the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). However, the UIGEA<\/a> does not supersede state law and does not apply if an activity is deemed to be gambling. This lawsuit argues that what Derby Wars offers is indeed gambling and is therefore illegal without the proper licensing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sites such as BetAmerica and TwinSpires should be unaffected by this lawsuit. Traditional horse racing sites that offer straight up betting hold all the necessary licenses they need to operate. The question of online horse racing betting was answered long ago \u2013 it is completely legal as long as operators comply with all licensing requirements and regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Does this Affect Regular Racing Betting Sites?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n