- Governor Newsom publicly rejected the attorney general’s view that daily fantasy sports are illegal under California law.
- The governor stated that the opinion has no legal effect and called for further debate in the legislature or courts.
Industry leaders echoed Newsom’s stance, saying DFS remains operational and lawful for now.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing back against a new legal opinion from Attorney General Rob Bonta that asserts daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests are illegal under state law.
The governor’s response, posted to social media shortly after the opinion was made public, reflects a sharp divide between two of the state’s top elected officials on the future of fantasy gaming.
Bonta’s opinion, prompted by a formal request from lawmakers, concludes that DFS contests (including popular formats like pick’em and salary-cap draft games) are not legal sports betting and are prohibited under California Penal Code. The attorney general’s office argued that these contests involve bets on the outcome of real-world sporting events, even if skill plays a role in player selection.
Newsom Disagrees
While he did not directly criticize Bonta, the governor emphasized that the opinion does not carry legal force and does not change the current California sports betting law. He signaled that DFS should remain available to Californians while the issue is debated more formally by the legislature or courts.
Industry stakeholders were quick to align with Newsom too.
The Coalition for Fantasy Sports praised the governor’s stance and criticized the AG’s opinion as legally flawed and out of step with how other states with daily fantasy sports are treating the topic. DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, and Underdog reiterated that they view their contests as skill-based and therefore legal under state law.
Legal experts agree that Bonta’s opinion alone does not shut down DFS operations in California. A judge echoed that view earlier this week when denying a request by Underdog Sports to block the opinion’s release, noting that it has no immediate legal effect.
More On The Topic: Underdog Fantasy Sues to Block California AG’s DFS Opinion
Still, the opinion could influence future enforcement or legislative efforts. Tribal gaming groups, which have long argued that DFS undercuts their exclusivity, have already called on the state to act on Bonta’s conclusions.
For now, the fate of DFS in California remains unresolved and increasingly political.
