The Charger Issue 4 | Page 18

Sports

The downfall of daily

fantasy sports

The legality of Daily Fantasy Sports websites is being questioned by state and national law.

By: Hunter Yarbro

New York Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman who is in favor of the ban on DraftKings. Photo By: JPupdates

The Charger, April '16

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It’s November 13th, 2015, Fantasy Sports fans are gathered outside the office of New York Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman. They are protesting the support Schneiderman has given for a ban on DraftKings and FanDuel in the state of New York.

All sports fans have undoubtedly seen either a DraftKings or FanDuel commercial on television. Potentially even playing on their websites after watching those commercials. DraftKings and FanDuel are Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) websites, where the participant enters money to bet on the performance

CNBC recently reported that the controversy in New York has risen over the two companies due to many seeing the online gambling as illegal. Those against DFS, argue the participant does not have control over the outcome, going against New York Law.

However, those arguing it is legal say that they control the lineup, hence having control over the outcome. Another legal argument made by these DFS companies is that the Internet Gambling

New York Supreme Court Justice, Manuel Mendez, requested to have DFS ruled illegal in New York in December. The List of states without DFS now reached eight. Daniel Roberts, a writer for Fortune, said, “Eight other states have gambling laws with similar language to New York’s, so what happens in New York could set a precedent for legality elsewhere.” This shows the beginning of an epidemic of states banning DFS.