Although Republican presidential candidates said fantasy sports gambling was too trivial of a topic to bring up at the CNBC debate, it's not too trivial for the state Senate to consider.

The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee is inviting national representatives of the fantasy sports gambling industry and  local experts in the field to a session that begins at 8 a.m. Nov. 20.

Committee Chairman Mike Baumgartner, R-Spokane, said Washington is one of only five states that outlaws fantasy sports gaming that involves money, and it may be time to change.

"Thousands of Washington citizens break the law every day when they play fantasy sports games for prize money," he said in a press release announcing the hearing. "When so many people ignore a law, we ought to recognize there's a problem with it."

Fantasy sports gaming has increased rapidly since 2006, when it was exempted from federal restrictions on Internet gambling. Now there are commercials for daily fantasy sports gambling on most sporting events, but Washington state law makes it illegal for residents to play.

 The state needs to decide whether it is gambling or a game of skill, and whether it is something that should be allowed at some level, Baumgartner said.

A bill to declare fantasy sports a game of skill was introduced last year in the Senate and got a hearing in Baumgartner's committee. But it never got voted out of committee and remains there for possible action when the Legislature returns for the 2016 session.  

---

---