Popular fantasy sports websites Fan Duels and Draft Kings objected an Illinois attorney general's request for the two separate companies to cease their operations in the state after her declaration that all forms of online betting games involving monetary value are classified under illegal gambling and therefore should be discouraged.
The state's Attorney General Lisa Madigan sent out letters to the lawyers of the game sites with the order, "We expect that both Fan Duel and Draft Kings will amend their Terms of Use to include Illinois as an additional state whose residents are not eligible to participate in contests unless and until the Illinois General Assembly passes legislation specifically exempting daily fantasy sports contests."
Fan Duel posted a response in its official website opposing Madigan's request stating, "Chicago may be the best sports town in the country."
The company is rather appalled at such opinion as it writes, "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. Hopefully the legislature will give back to the people of Illinois the games they love."
Meanwhile, David Boies, the representative from Draft Kings released a statement saying, "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."
"The company intends to promptly seek a judicial resolution of its right to offer daily fantasy sports contests to Illinois residents. As it does so, it will continue to abide by all relevant laws and will follow the direction of the courts. Pending that resolution the company will preserve the status quo," adds Attorney Boies.
Chicago Tribune asserts that gambling can hardly be controlled as it concerns one's morality. The vice just like any other similar daily deeds are widely encouraged and condemned at the same time.
Instead of turning fantasy games illegal, the state should make a move to legalize it and staple it with strict regulations and hefty tax just as how alcohol and cigarettes are dealt with as insisted by the publication.
Fan Duel and Draft Kings are still operating businesses in the state of Illinois with nearly 200,000 unique players, making it the fourth largest base of daily fantasy games after California, New York, and Florida.
