Federal Grand Jury Subpoenas Fantasy Sports Trade Association

A federal grand jury "has issued a subpoena" to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association "under the auspices" of the Tampa-based U.S. attorney’s office, which declined to comment. The group, which lobbies on behalf of leading sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel, "was the target of the subpoena." The scope of the investigation "remained unclear" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/17). The FSTA "has announced to its membership that it is pulling its winter conference, scheduled for January, out of Nevada and is cooperating with a federal investigation into daily fantasy sports operators" (ESPN.com, 10/17).

Meanwhile, the Illinois Gaming Board, whose state does not allow internet gambling, "plans to seek a legal opinion on whether daily fantasy sports websites like those ordered shut down in Nevada violate state law" (AP, 10/17).