By: Liz Farmer

I came across a bill introduced last week in the House of Delegates that proposes exempting fantasy sports from Maryland sports gambling prohibitions. Click here to read the two-page bill.

The legislation is sponsored by Del. John A. Olszewski, D-Baltimore, and co-sponsored by three others.

For a little context, the bill would not violate the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which exempts fantasy sports. More recently, New Jersey lawmakers are proposing legalizing Internet gambling and in Congress, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., is pushing legalization of online gambling.

No hearing has been scheduled yet but it’s an interesting proposal. I mean, let’s be honest … if you play or have ever played fantasy sports, chances are you have played for money at some point. To me, it kind of seems like one of those bills where so many people are doing it anyway and it doesn’t seem to be hurting anyone, let’s just make it officially legal instead of looking the other way. After all, I don’t really think the fact that awarding prize money to the winner of a fantasy league isn’t legal in Maryland, is really stopping anyone. Please, someone — correct me if I’m wrong on that.