Hawaii prosecutor demands DFS sites stop taking bets

Following the decision last week by Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin that daily fantasy sports constitute gambling, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro has demanded that two fantasy sports sites stop taking bets from Honolulu residents. 

Alongside Utah, Hawaii is the only other US state which does not allow some form of legalised gambling.

In a letter on Monday of this week Kaneshiro demanded that the two major DFS sites, DraftKings and FanDuel, “immediately cease and desist” from accepting bets from residents of Honolulu.

David Boies, an Attorney for DraftKings, said that the company will stop accepting Honolulu residents’ bets. He also added that he disagrees with the Hawaii Attorney General’s opinion on the basis that daily fantasy sports aren’t games of skill.

Boies said of the matter: “We are hopeful our constructive engagement with Hawaii legislators will promptly address the issue so that our loyal fans can continue to enjoy the games they love without anyone questioning the legality of their conduct. In the meantime, we will voluntarily pause operations in the state but hope to resume soon.”

Fantasy sports is big business in the USA but the jury is still out on its future with states such as New York moving to ban it in its entirety, whilst California and Pennsylvania amongst others are working on its regulation.