NEW YORK — Justice Manuel Mendez declined to rule immediately on the New York attorney general's request seeking a preliminary injunction to stop daily fantasy sports sites from operating in the state, but Mendez said his written decision will come "very soon."
DraftKings and FanDuel, the two industry leaders in daily fantasy sports, have in turn filed suit against Attorney General Eric Schneiderman after he sent them cease-and-desist letters earlier this month.
The daily fantasy companies — which have grown into a billion-dollar business — shared an hour of oral arguments amongst litigation heavyweights David Boies, John Kiernan and Randy Mastro.
Kathleen McGee argued on behalf of the state.
The attorney general's office contends that season-long fantasy sports are legal under state law, but that daily fantasy is materially a game of chance and should be deemed illegal gambling, likening them to prop betting and other sports wagers decided outside the participants' control.
DraftKings and FanDuel counter that daily fantasy competitions are contests of skill and are thus protected under state law.
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