NY attorney general orders FanDuel, DraftKings to shut down

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York's attorney general has told the daily fantasy sports companies DraftKings and FanDuel to stop taking players in New York on the grounds that their operations amount to illegal gambling.

In a pair of letters sent to the companies Tuesday, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said their contests are promoted like a lottery and are essentially games of chance, not skill.

Schneiderman added that the contests are "neither harmless nor victimless."

In a separate statement he accused the companies of being "leaders of a massive, multi-billion-dollar scheme intended to evade the law and fleece sports fans across the country."

FanDuel said in a statement that its games are legal and Schneiderman is just out for press attention.

DraftKings didn't immediately respond to phone and email messages.

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