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You can still bet on football, for now

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Illinois

Daily fantasy sports sites like DraftKings and FanDuel will be able to operate in Illinois while the courts decide on DraftKings’ lawsuit challenging Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s finding that the companies’ games are illegal gambling operations.

The attorney general’s office and lawyers for DraftKings, one of the two largest websites in the burgeoning business of daily fantasy sports tournaments, have agreed to not take other legal action over the websites while the DraftKings lawsuit works its way through the courts. A trial is set for June.

“We are pleased that we have reached agreement with the Illinois attorney general’s office today on an expedited court schedule ‎for determining the legality of the daily fantasy sports contests that DraftKings is offering in Illinois,” lawyer Randy Mastro said in a statement issued Tuesday. “We remain committed to providing DFS to the hundreds of thousands of loyal Illinois fans who love the game, and we look forward to our day in court, where we are confident we will prevail.”

Madigan last week issued an opinion letter, at the request of state legislators and the Gaming Commission, finding that daily fantasy games like the ones operated by DraftKings are illegal gambling. Madigan also asked the sites to add Illinois to the list of states whose residents cannot legally participate in the so-called daily fantasy games.

Thoughts on this?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 9:44 am

Comments

While I don’t care for the idea of these sites, people love them. How about we simply regulate and tax the sites instead of letting all of the proceeds go to underground fantasy leagues and bookies.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 9:53 am
It’s obviously gambling, just like laying a bet with a bookie.

You can be knowledgeable and thoughtful about laying your bets, but it’s ultimately still a game of chance, not skill.

Now that the major sports leagues either have a piece of the action or accept advertising from the fantasy betting sites, their hypocrisy regarding sports betting is complete. (Seriously, why do you think the leagues require teams disclose injury reports).

You might as well legalize sports betting in the state and get a piece of the action.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 9:54 am
Man, Lisa’s opinion on this spark lot’s of ill-informed teeth nashing on sports talk radio over the holidays. The fantasy sites’ agrument that theirs is a game of skill doesn’t matter here. Illinois law bars wagering on unlicensed games of chance AND games of skill. I personally think it should be legal, but the law is the law. Madigan was just issuing an opinion on what the law means — and it was a no-brainer for anyone who can read a statute.

Comment by Call me Albert Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:02 am
“Thoughts on this?”

When can we start betting on elections?

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:02 am
I love fantasy sports. I play in leagues with friends and just year got into daily. As much I love it, I don’t believe it to be a game of skill..like at all. I used to think it was about skill, but there’s a TON of luck and chance involved. I would hate to see it go because I enjoy it. And I’m hopeful they’ll come to a reasonable conclusion with it. Let’s not forget that a many of these NFL owners have a stake in these companies. Will be interesting to see if/how/when they become involved in this issue in state legislatures around the country. At the end of the day, just like anything else, its all about the $.

Comment by Corporate Thug Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:10 am
The Democrats are having a problem with working class men? See the rise of Trump. Throw in some more of the nanny state taking away simple pleasures and watch it get a whole lot worse.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:11 am
Lobbyists and their money are heading to Springfield. Congratulations. Mission accomplished, Lisa.

Comment by old pol Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:12 am
Football Militia Call To Action: We are occupying the BFE State Bird Sanctuary to protest the state’s overreaching regulations, denying our Constitutional, God-given Rights to play daily fantasy sports. Please bring plenty of Doritos (Cool Ranch AND Nacho), warm socks, and clean underwear. We will humbly accept monetary donations at our website www.GodHatesMuslimsAndAndersonCooper.com.

Comment by Fusion Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:12 am
I get was LM was doing and I like Mike Zalewski’s bill as well. He did a great interview on 670 the Score right around Xmas.
Bottom line, while I do not play FF on FanDuel and DraftKings, I do on other sites like ESPN and Yahoo.
Change the statute with Zalweski’s bill and legalize it. Look at revenue down the line.
As far as Scott Drury, who really started this with Elgie Sims, boy, he is going full anti FF and lets be frank, in his district, there are a lot of people who play.
Stupid issue, and a lot of nonpolitical types are angry over it.
Pass the bill, legalize it and get back to the budget.
This is the sort of stuff that makes Illinois Pols look dumb to the noninvolved public.

Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:15 am
Lisa M. acted responsibly on both counts.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:16 am
Fusion wins the internet so far this morning!

To the topic: I compare DFG’s to Horse Racing. While there is a certain amount of luck involved, but to do well in both sports, a certain amount of research is required. What is the field like? Injuries? etc. So, if Horse Racing is considered gambling by the state, then DFG’s should be as well.

Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:22 am
I don’t play DFS, but my friends that do tell me that it is definitely gambling. And if it is, then we should not allow it in IL. But, after saying that, I personally think that ALL gambling should be legal in ALL states and taxed both federally and state-wise. Every state could use the money, as well as the US. The gambling will always exist, so make it legal, and tax it and regulate it. I have had this belief for a long time. We can eliminate a good portion of the bookies if we allow legal gambling.

Comment by Big Joe Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:36 am
So far she’s going easy on them. Betting on fantasy football is gambling and is barred under current Illinois law. I’m agnostic on whether to legalize it, but no one should argue that it is NOT currently banned and these companies are violating Illinois law by taking money from Illinoisans.

New York is taking a much tougher stand against them, demanding refunds from New York wagers. That’s hitting them in the wallet, where it’ll hurt the most.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:38 am
” a certain amount of research is required”
Same can be said about Blackjack. It’s still a game of chance and luck. Gambling is Gambling. I love betting on sports(not this DF garbage), just wish I could do it legally here in Illinois.

We need to repeal the Bradley Act. It’s ridiculous that just 4 states can have legalized sports gambling.

Comment by Person 8 Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:40 am
Odell Beckham, Jr.’s suspension took a lot of “skill” out of the equation for anyone who depended on him for their fantasy finals.

What makes me concerned about AG Madigan’s ruling is the inconsistency. Season long leagues through ESPN, Yahoo and CBS Sports can also include entry fees and payouts. What makes them different? I know the algorithm systems used in daily leagues gives some entities/players an advantage, but “pro” leagues on the aforementioned sites are the essentially the same thing.

What is interesting about this is exactly what RPM noted above. Those not in the “know” will get agitated about this and make assumptions. The articles written in a lot of newspapers are a key into how the general public (and fantasy players especially) view AG Madigan’s actions and Rep. Z’s bill. Hint - the consensus is not in line with the elected officials’s thinking.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:53 am
10:53 was me.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 11:05 am
It’s a weird issue to be focusing on ahead of so many others at the moment, but one that is certain to get her significant press.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 11:48 am
–The Democrats are having a problem with working class men? See the rise of Trump.–

I didn’t realize that Trump was a “problem” for Democrats. When did he switch parties?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 1:56 pm
==- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 10:11 am:==

Change it to working class white men. Of course, these same men never seem to have a problem with the “nanny state” privileging them over women and other races.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 3:25 pm
I’m a big fan of fantasy sports and it certainly makes games more fun. This is clearly gambling though. I follow football and basketball religiously and, usually, I’m pretty good at knowing which player has the better match up or a sleeper pick to find but its still any given Sunday. Even the best running back going against the worst rushing defense will have a bad day or get hurt and screw up your line up. I haven’t checked and might tonight but I’m almost positive it’s fixed. You start with 50k dollars and pick the players who price vary from how good they are or it will go up and down based by games and it always seems like someone has a little more to spend. I understand people are extremely good at these games but I find it extremely hard to believe people can hit gold 2 or 3 times in one game finding a 3rd string WR who catches 3 TDs. Some of it is a little fishy.

Comment by Jimmy0 Tuesday, Jan 5, 16 @ 4:14 pm