FanDuel suspending daily fantasy sports for NY players

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Daily fantasy sports operator FanDuel said today it's temporarily suspending entry in paid contests for New York players, while the state attorney general sued to halt what he considers illegal gambling by both FanDuel and DraftKings.

The New York-based company said that move follows its failed attempt to convince a judge late Monday to immediately block the state attorney general's efforts to shut it down.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's sent FanDuel and Bostson-based DraftKings letters last week calling on them to halt what he considers illegal games of chance under New York law. Both companies say that their popular daily games are based on skill and legal, and they've made that argument to an increasing number of states that are weighing whether to regulate the industry.

"We will press on and fight to ensure that your right to play fantasy sports is protected, not just in New York, but across the nation," FanDuel said today.

FanDuel was forced to stop taking deposits from New Yorkers late last week, saying its bank and processors were deterred by Schneiderman's efforts. The company said that contests will run for New Yorkers who entered before 2:30 p.m. today, but they can't enter after that.

FanDuel and DraftKings each say they have hundreds of thousands of customers in New York.