Nevada says no to fantasy sites
State rules gaming sites illegal without gambling licenses
Nevada regulators ordered daily fantasy sports sites like Draft Kings and Fan Duel to shut down Thursday, saying the hard-to-miss sites that have flooded the marketplace with TV and Internet ads cannot operate in the state without a gambling license.
The decision comes amid growing backlash by regulators and investigators, including New York’s attorney general, after it was revealed employees often played on competing sites, raising questions about possible insider information being used to win.
Nevada regulators govern the country’s main gambling hub in Las Vegas, and their actions could hold sway with regulators elsewhere.
Entry fees on Draft Kings range from 25 cents to more than $5,000. Some prizes top $1 million.
Draft Kings and Fan Duel say the sites provide games of skill and not chance, and are therefore protected by the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act established in 2006.
Until now, the sites have been available in all but five states where their legality has been called into question.
Skiing
Bode Miller says he will take a break from racing on the World Cup circuit this season to spend more time with his family, test out new ski equipment and help train a barn of horses he bought.
The six-time Olympic medalist isn’t leaning toward retirement just yet, but did say Thursday that competing at the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea was, “really unlikely.”
The U.S. skier turned 38 earlier this week.
Kikkan Randall, a fourtime Olympian and one of the most decorated American cross-country skiers, is taking off this season to have a baby. Randall, 32, plans to compete in 2016-17 and the 2018 Olympics.
Soccer
All 54 European soccer nations on Thursday backed UEFA President Michel Platini’s fight to clear his name and overturn FIFA’s suspension.
Platini and FIFA President Sepp Blatter were suspended for 90 days last week by the FIFA ethics committee following an investigation into a payment from soccer’s world governing body.
While Blatter has been replaced at FIFA by acting president Issa Hayatou, Platini retains the UEFA presidency and salary despite officially being banned.
The U.S. women’s team will play Trinidad and Tobago in Honolulu on Dec. 6 in the first international match played by the Americans in Hawaii. The Americans also will play Trinidad and Tobago on Dec. 10 at a site to be announced. The tour ends against China at the Superdome in New Orleans on Dec. 16. Two other December matches remain to be scheduled.
Golf
Sung Hyun Park shot a course-record 10-under 62 to take a four-stroke lead in the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship in Incheon, South Korea. Making her first LPGA Tour start, Park, 22, played alongside Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson and often drove past the long-hitting U.S. stars. Ranked 54th in the world, Park won the Korea LPGA’s Se Ri Pak Invitational two weeks ago.
U.S. Solheim Cup hero Gerina Piller and Charley Hull were tied for second at 66.