FanDuel and DraftKings owns 96 percent of the daily fantasy sports market share, so anything that affects these two giant companies also affects the entire online gaming world. So when New York effectively banned the companies from operating within the state, tremors could be felt all over the U.S.
New York Bans Daily Fantasy Sports
On Friday December 11th, New York State Judge Manuel Mendez ruled that DraftKings and FanDuel could no longer accept bets in the state of New York. The ruling was a major victory for New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman who has taken the two companies to court over illegal gaming. However, the companies were able to secure an emergency stay so they could keep operating while their legal case against the state continues.
Judge Mendez believes that Attorney General Schneiderman is standing on the right side of this argument. He wrote: “The protection of the general public outweighs any potential loss of business,” and though his decision is not the final word on the case, the judge believes the AG has a better chance of winning than the fantasy sites do.
How Could This Affect Florida?
Like Florida, New York has laws banning commercial gambling, and with other states like Nevada declaring daily fantasy sports gambling, our home state could soon follow. The attorneys here at Colson Hicks Eidson have already filed a case against FanDuel and DraftKings on behalf of Florida residents who believe they were fleeced by cheating, but soon these companies might be on the hook for providing illegal games to the entire state.
Do you think daily fantasy sports is gambling? Should DraftKings and FanDuel pay for tricking the general public? Post your thoughts on our Facebook and Twitter feeds, and keep following our blog for more updates.