California AG declares daily fantasy sports games illegal
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has released his official opinion declaring that online daily fantasy games should be prohibited in California.
Despite Underdog filing a lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court on 30 June to try to stop the Attorney General from releasing his opinion, Bonta has concluded that daily fantasy constitutes sports betting and is therefore illegal in California.
Bonta’s 33-page dossier says, “Like traditional sports wagering, daily fantasy sports games enable participants to win or lose money based on the outcome of sporting events played by third-party athletes.”
Yet, a spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom has said that he wants cooperation from all parties but does not agree with Bonta’s official legal opinion.
The spokesperson told KCRA 3, “He welcomes a constructive path forward in collaboration with all stakeholders.”
Despite the ruling, fantasy operators in the state are not planning to stop their operations anytime soon. They maintain that fantasy sports are a game of skill and thus should not be conflated with sports gambling.
A DraftKings spokesperson pointed to Congress confirming that fantasy sports contests are games of skill, telling ESPN, “We intend to work with stakeholders, including the office of the attorney general, to try to find an amicable resolution.”
Dig deeper
2025/07/03: Underdog sues California AG over potential daily fantasy sports ban
2025/06/27: California Attorney General set to rule that online fantasy sports platforms are illegal
2025/07/07: Consumer protection law firms in California launch lawsuit against DFS operators
2025/07/04: California judge denies Underdog Fantasy’s petition over Attorney General opinion
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