Fantasy games a reality again

ALBANY — Daily fantasy sports sites are officially back in business in New York.

The state’s Gaming Commission on Monday issued temporary permits to five daily fantasy sports sites — including major players DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo — that allow them to resume operations immediately.

“While the commission continues work on formal regulations for these games, these temporary permits get companies up and running in New York State while assuring resident players that safeguards are in place,” said commission Executive Director Robert Williams.

FantasyDraft and Draft also received permits from the commission. Five other sites also requested temporary permits and their applications are still being reviewed, officials said.

The permits come less than a month after Gov. Cuomo signed a bill that legalized daily fantasy sports websites in New York and gave the Gaming Commission the power to regulate them.

FanDuel, DraftKings and Yahoo shut down their New York operations this past March as part of an agreement with Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who had accused them of violating state gambling laws.

Daily fantasy sports sites, as part of their campaign to win legalization, spent nearly $800,000 lobbying lawmakers, records showed.