With sports betting under fire in many states, the industry is trying to find common ground with policymakers on regulations that would recognize the activity as legal.

The Fantasy Sports Trade Association says daily fantasy sports are not gambling but rather games of skill. But association chairman Peter Schoenke told CBS MoneyWatch the industry is willing to back reasonable regulations.

He said the group is open to a Massachusetts proposal to prohibit expert players from participating in tournaments for beginners.

Leading association members DraftKings and FanDuel are fighting efforts by some states, including New York, to shut them down.

"Despite the court case (in New York), we're optimistic about a lot of the other developments we have seen at the state level," Schoenke saoid. "We have seen positive (proposed) regulations issued by the Massachusetts attorney general. We have seen some bills that have been proposed in Florida and Illinois that clarify that fantasy sports is legal."

CBS MoneyWatch, citing the National Conference of State Legislatures, said bills oversee the industry have been introduced in about a dozen states recently. Maryland and Pennsylvania officials also are taking a critical look.

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