Underdog sues California AG over potential daily fantasy sports ban

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Underdog is suing California Attorney General Rob Bonta in relation to a proposed daily fantasy sports ban, as the group believes he is overstepping his legal authority.

First reported by KCRA 3, the lawsuit, filed in Sacramento County Superior Court, came just days before Bonta was about to release his legal opinion, which could lead to a ban on all online daily fantasy sports platforms in the state.

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The suit asks the court to block Bonta’s opinion from being released until the court can come to a decision. Underdog also released a statement that outlined their belief that the industry will still succeed even if a negative opinion is issued.

A spokesperson for Underdog said, “Any potential opinion is flawed because it has to rely on factual determinations the opinion process cannot and should not resolve, according to California law. The last two Attorneys General, Kamala Harris and Xavier Beccera, did not issue opinions, and Attorney General Bonta has been in office for more than four years without questioning fantasy sports games.

“We are optimistic the law will be followed and are confident in the legality of fantasy sports in California. If a negative opinion is issued, fantasy sports will prevail on the merits, no different than in New York and Illinois where courts rejected the similarly wrong opinions of those states’ attorneys general.”

Underdog’s platform in California is host to thousands of users, and they argue that daily fantasy sports games are skill games and should not be classified as gambling.

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