SB 551 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Revise fantasy sports laws

SB 551 would establish a licensing system for online fantasy sports companies operating in Montana, requiring them to obtain approval from the Department of Justice. It defines "fantasy sports contests" as skill-based games where outcomes depend on player knowledge (not chance), mandates background checks for applicants, and sets fees for licensing and criminal background investigations. The bill also creates tax rules based on "internet fantasy sports contest adjusted revenues" and requires companies to maintain records for audits. This bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.
Bill status died 2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Failed
Apr 2025
Governor
Introduced Mar 26, 2025 Last action May 23, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC0706.pdf SB0551_1.pdf · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from LC 0706 to SB 551, indicating it moved from a committee or legislative committee version to a Senate bill version. The primary substantive change is the addition of specific sponsors (F. Mandeville, W. Galt, K. Bogner, M. Regier, C. Schomer) and the document was updated to an 'Authorized Print Version.' No substantive policy changes to the gambling laws or fantasy sports definitions were identified in this diff.
TECHNICAL

Bill number changed from LC 0706 to SB 551 and document title updated to Authorized Print Version.

Specific sponsors (F. Mandeville, W. Galt, K. Bogner, M. Regier, C. Schomer) were added to the bill introduction line.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 4, 2025

How they voted

2325
Failed · 2 other
Total votes 50
Apr 4, 2025
D Democratic18
10 Yea 7 Nay 1
55% Yea
R Republican32
13 Yea 18 Nay 1
56% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Amendments
1
Apr 4, 2025
Vote failed
Senate Vote: fail (23-25-2)
senate
Apr 2, 2025
Amended
(S) Tabled in Committee - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Forrest Mandeville
Forrest Mandeville
RRepublican
MT
28