By Will Stevenson/lllionis Radio Network
CHICAGO – Gambling sites like Draft Kings and Fan Duel have been deemed illegal under Illinois law, but they may not be for very long.
At the request of several lawmakers, Illinios Attorney General Lisa Madigan has issued a ruling that seems to be similar to other states with such concerns about the online fantasy sports sites. Madigan says the sites are illegal because they constitute gambling in Illinois. While Draft Kings and Fan Duel operate under shorter time frames than typical contests, Madigan says they’re still games of chance. The sites rely on the actual performance of athletes and can be contested over a day or a week, or longer.
Fan Duel said Illinois takes part in fantasy sports like no other, so they don’t know why Madigan would go against her constituents. But, Madigan noted in the ruling that legislation is pending at the capitol to change all that.
Fan Duel’s full statement: “Chicago may be the best sports town in the country. It’s a city – and Illinois is a state – that plays fantasy sports like almost no other. “The League” is even set in Illinois. 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. A sports town like Chicago and a sports-loving state like Illinois deserves nothing less.”
