Daily fantasy sports ruled illegal in Illinois

Another day, another blow for FanDuel and DraftKings.

The Illinois attorney general deemed daily fantasy sports to be illegal gambling under state law on Wednesday.

In an opinion delivered to state representatives, Attorney General Lisa Madigan said she felt short-term, paid contests offered by the companies should be considered gambling. Her office now expects DraftKings and FanDuel to change their terms of use and make Illinois residents ineligible to compete until lawmakers pass new legislation.

FanDuel was quick to respond to the ruling.

"Chicago may be the best sports town in the country," a FanDuel representative said. "So why the attorney general would tell her 13.5 million constituents they can't play fantasy sports anymore as they know it — and make no mistake, her opinion bans all forms of fantasy sports played for money — is beyond us."

DraftKings counsel David Boies echoed a similar sentiment in his statement.

"We believe daily fantasy sports, which Illinois residents have been playing for years, are lawful under state law. We also believe, as the attorney general has said, that this is a policy question for state legislators to address," Boies said. 

For now, however, DFS has come to a halt in the state of Illinois.