California Declares Fantasy Sports Gambling Illegal

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has formally declared gambling on fantasy sports illegal, equating it with sports wagering and citing state laws dating back to 1909. The opinion ends years of legal ambiguity and follows a request from a now-former state legislator. Underdog Sports filed a lawsuit to block the opinion, arguing Bonta exceeded his authority and warning of devastating impacts on the industry. A court denied Underdog’s emergency request to halt the opinion, stating the company had sufficient opportunity to challenge the process. Other fantasy sports operators, such as PrizePicks, have already begun altering their business models in response to the new legal landscape. The issue may ultimately be resolved through legislation or further court action, as California voters have previously rejected sports wagering legalization.