Daily fantasy sports leagues took a major hit in New York State today. State attorney general Eric T. Schneiderman announced earlier today that DraftKings and FanDuel, the two largest daily fantasy sports companies, stop accepting bets from New York State. He said the daily games are considered illegal gambling under NYS law.
The multibillion dollar industry has approximately 500,000 participants in New York, and the order is a major blow. Schneidermann is historically a consumerprotection advocate, and legal experts say other states may follow suit. Schneiderman said ““ It is clear that DraftKings and FanDuel are the leaders of a massive, multibilliondollar scheme intended to evade the law and fleece sports fans across the country… Today we have sent a clear message: not in New York, and not on my watch.”
DraftKings spokesperson Sabrina Macias said “We’re disappointed he hasn’t taken the time to meet with us or ask any questions about our business model before his opinion.” DraftKings sent an email asking its players to contact the attorney general to protect their “…right to keep playing daily fantasy sports.” Macias also said that the company strongly disagrees with the order and plans to pursue all available legal options.
Written By: Peter Mancarella (11/11/15)