PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rhode Island's attorney general says daily fantasy sports are legal under state law.
Attorney General Peter Kilmartin said Thursday he conducted a review and has forwarded the findings to fellow Democrats Gov. Gina Raimondo, Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed and House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello.
Daily fantasy sports participants put together virtual teams based on real players and compete for points based on the players' statistics. Attorneys general in several states have found the games are illegal.
Kilmartin says in Rhode Island the question depends on whether chance is a dominant factor in determining how prizes are distributed. He finds daily fantasy sports are a mixture of chance and skill and are therefore allowed. He's encouraging lawmakers to establish regulations.
Boston-based fantasy sports website DraftKings says it's pleased and it's working with Rhode Island legislators to enact "appropriate regulations."
"We agree with the Attorney General's opinion that daily fantasy sports are games of skill and legal under Rhode Island law," DraftKings attorney David Boies said in a statement. "And we are pleased that his legal opinion supports the view of certain other Attorneys General, experts, fans, and many policymakers that there is no legal distinction between season long and daily fantasy sports.
"We also agree that the legislature is the appropriate place for any additional regulation of fantasy contests," the statement said. "That is why we are working actively with legislators in Rhode Island and across the country to enact thoughtful and appropriate regulations that allow our fans to continue enjoying the contests they love."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
