NICHOLAS CLAYTON, Associated Press
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators have given final approval to a measure declaring fantasy sports a legal game of skill.

The House approved the measure on a 98-21 vote Thursday. The Senate approved it on a 37-1 vote Monday, so it goes next to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

The bill would bring clarity to an ongoing dispute over the legal status of fantasy sports leagues.

The Kansas Constitution allows only the state to administer games fitting a broad definition of a lottery.

The state’s gambling regulator announced in August that it viewed fantasy sports as illegal lotteries.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt released an opinion in April saying the state could legalize fantasy sports if they were games of skill. Legally, the results of a lottery are determined by chance.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House is expected to vote on a bill that would define fantasy sports as legal.

The chamber passed over the bill in its schedule Wednesday, but a spokeswoman for House Speaker Ray Merrick said it would be addressed Thursday. If passed, it would be sent to Gov. Sam Brownback to sign. The measure would clarify an ongoing dispute over the legal status of fantasy football.

The state’s gambling regulator announced in August it viewed private fantasy sports leagues as illegal lotteries. But Attorney General Derek Schmidt released an opinion in April asserting they are legal games of skill.

Republican Rep. Brett Hildabrand from Shawnee has said he introduced the fantasy sports legalization language to prevent ordinary residents from being charged with gambling violations for playing the popular games.