Real money in fantasy sports?

[gferra]

California (only U.S. law)

Although I am aware that past court rulings hold that real names and real sports statistics can be used in online fantasy sports games, I have a doubt regarding fantasy sports games that use real money. Would it be illegal to develop a game that uses real money? Seeing that this real money would get transformed into in-game currency, would it be illegal or conflicting for users to be able to buy players for their teams with real money? They would technically be trading assets that are worth real money and making money if the players they own start playing better in real life. In this game, you'd be able to buy a young player with great potential and then sell him when he gets good. Therefore, the in-game owner of the player would be making money by selling that player to another user of the game. Do any lawyers see any legal issues that these game features could cause? Could players sue for the commercialization of their names in the game?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Gino

 

[Proserpina]

California (only U.S. law)

Although I am aware that past court rulings hold that real names and real sports statistics can be used in online fantasy sports games, I have a doubt regarding fantasy sports games that use real money. Would it be illegal to develop a game that uses real money? Seeing that this real money would get transformed into in-game currency, would it be illegal or conflicting for users to be able to buy players for their teams with real money? They would technically be trading assets that are worth real money and making money if the players they own start playing better in real life. In this game, you'd be able to buy a young player with great potential and then sell him when he gets good. Therefore, the in-game owner of the player would be making money by selling that player to another user of the game. Do any lawyers see any legal issues that these game features could cause? Could players sue for the commercialization of their names in the game?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Gino

Please delete your other threads - the question really only needs to be in one forum.

Thanks

 

[CreativeBlock]

Please delete your other threads - the question really only needs to be in one forum.

Thanks

You're ignoring the symmetry here ~ his topic concerns (at it's base core) gambling. So, by having 3 separate threads in 3 separate fora, he's just hedging his bets!

Ba-dam-dum-TISH.

 

[ENASNI]

You're ignoring the symmetry here ~ his topic concerns (at it's base core) gambling. So, by having 3 separate threads in 3 separate fora, he's just hedging his bets!

Ba-dam-dum-TISH.

Good one! I did a ba dum dum earlier but forgot the tish.

 

[FlyingRon]

If there's a way to cash out of the game, it would be considered illegal gambling in all the states I am aware of.

 

[gferra]

Why does cashing out make such a difference? From what I've found out, I thought games of skill do not constitute as gambling.

This is what I'm referencing:

Main article: Online gambling#United States
Title VIII of the Act is also known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (or UIGEA). This title (found at 31 U.S.C.*§§*5361–5367) "prohibits gambling businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with the participation of another person in a bet or wager that involves the use of the Internet and that is unlawful under any federal or state law."[4] The act specifically excludes fantasy sports, online lotteries, and horse/harness racing.