California AG Rob Bonta Promises DFS Crackdown

Posted on: July 25, 2025, 10:17h. 

Last updated on: July 26, 2025, 06:32h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.
  • AG Bonta to enforce opinion saying DFS contests violate California law
  • DFS industry faces heightened scrutiny and legal uncertainty
  • Tribes demand swift action to enforce DFS regulations

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has vowed to clamp down on daily fantasy sports operating in the state following his July 3 opinion that the contests are illegal under state law.

Daily Fantasy Sports, DFS, Rob Bonta, California Gambling Laws, DFS Crackdown, FanDuel, DraftKings
California AG Rob Bonta, pictured during the Alameda 4th of July Parade in 2022. DFS companies weren’t celebrating when he dropped his opinion on July 3 this year. (Image: Shutterstock)

California is the biggest DFS market in the US, accounting for around 15% of all revenues nationwide – an estimated $200 million annually.

In a press conference this week, Bonta said he would “absolutely” act against DFS sites.

“The next step is our enforcement, and laws are meant to be enforced,” he said.

DFS sites like FanDuel, DraftKings, PrizePicks, and Underdog Fantasy were still offering their services to California residents as of Friday.

DFS is Sports Betting, Says Bonta

The Coalition for Fantasy Sports, a group that includes PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy as members, said in a July 3 statement that Bonta “got it wrong.”

“The law has not changed, a fact the last two Attorneys General, Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra, recognized as they specifically declined any similar action.”

In his opinion, Bonta determined that DFS contests, regardless of their skill component, were “wagers” on the performance of third-party athletes. Thus, they fell under Penal Code section 337a, which criminalizes betting on contests of “skill, speed, or power of endurance.”

The AG’s opinion is advisory and does not change the law. But it carries weight and may influence how DFS will be viewed by state authorities. It could also strengthen civil lawsuits against DFS companies by those seeking to recoup losses.

What raised eyebrows, however, was how fast Governor Gavin Newsom shot down Bonta’s take.

“The AG, in his independent capacity, issued this opinion — not the Governor’s Office,” Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon said in a statement. “While the Governor does not agree with the outcome, he welcomes a constructive path forward in collaboration with all stakeholders.”

Tribes Back Bonta

One group that does agree with the opinion is the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA).

Untold millions if not billions have been illegally wagered over the past decade. Where is the enforcement? Where is the accountability?” CNIGA spokesman James May said in a statement. “It is now imperative that the state back up this legal opinion with strong enforcement and that lawbreakers be held to account.”

Since Bonta first entered politics, CNIGA members have funneled $334,700 into his campaign coffers, records show.