Veteran Las Vegas Sands executive J.T. Foley to lead Coalition for Fantasy Sports

J.T. Foley, a veteran executive from Las Vegas Sands, has been named the first executive director of the Coalition for Fantasy Sports. Foley's appointment marks a major step for the organization, which aims to expand the fantasy sports market nationwide.

Foley, who served as vice president of government relations and an executive at Sands for 17 years, will lead the group in its efforts to protect fantasy sports players from illegal operators, promote innovation, ensure responsible play, identify best practices, and encourage market growth, the Coalition said.

During his tenure at Sands, Foley helped oversee the company’s political activities, lobbying efforts, and government affairs across various jurisdictions globally and domestically. His contributions were pivotal in Sands' expansion projects and gaming legislation efforts in states such as Pennsylvania, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Georgia, Texas, New York, and Brazil.

He also played a key role in the 2016 legislation that enabled the construction of Allegiant Stadium, home to the Raiders and UNLV.

“I’m thrilled to join the Coalition for Fantasy Sports,” Foley stated in a press release. “We will work with member companies to create the laws we need to grow this industry. Our member companies are leading on consumer protections and eager to share what we know with emerging DFS providers so that we can establish and preserve a safe and legal ecosystem.”

Fantasy sports involves participants assembling virtual teams of real professional sports players, with competition based on the statistical performance of these players in actual games. According to Play Nevada, which monitors online sports wagering, there are an estimated 11,000 active fantasy sports players in the state, collectively spending over $4 million annually in entry fees.

“Fantasy sports is a growing industry with millions of fans who deserve the freedom to play the games they love, and my objective as executive director is to make that possible,” Foley added. “I have spent most of my career working with regulators and legislators across the country and I’m excited to continue to grow the industry and help expand the map for fantasy sports.”

Four fantasy sports companies, Underdog Fantasy, PrizePicks, Betr, and Dabble, form the coalition. Major companies such as FanDuel and DraftKings, which have diversified into other sports wagering products, are not part of the coalition.

“J.T. Foley is a respected voice within the industry who brings a wealth of knowledge to the coalition,” said Jeremy Levine, co-CEO and founder of Underdog. “The daily fantasy sports market is rapidly expanding, and our companies are fortunate to have someone with J.T.’s experience guiding this effort.”

Andy Abboud, Sands' senior vice president of government relations and community affairs, expressed regret over Foley's departure. “J.T. has played a critical role at Sands for nearly two decades," Abboud said. "He knows the industry as well as anyone and has an extensive network across the country. We’re sad to lose him but excited to see the impact he will undoubtedly have guiding the Coalition for Fantasy Sports.”

While the coalition is based in Virginia, Foley is expected to remain in Las Vegas. It's uncertain if Foley will pursue efforts to expand fantasy sports in Nevada, where the industry has faced regulatory challenges.

In 2015, industry leaders FanDuel and DraftKings debated whether fantasy sports constituted gambling or a skill game, leading to a 2016 determination by then-Attorney General Adam Laxalt that fantasy sports is a form of gambling requiring state licensure. As a result, both companies withdrew from Nevada rather than seek licensing.