fantasty sports

DraftKings and FanDuel are downplaying media reports this week that the two biggest daily fantasy sports companies could team up. But given their swift change of fortune this past year, industry watchers say the timing's right for a deal.

Small businesses that provide fantasy sports said Tuesday that legislation requiring them to pay a $500,000 licensing fee would make New York too expensive for all but industry giants DraftKings and FanDuel.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey issued rules Friday for daily fantasy sports operators that she called the most comprehensive in the nation, including a minimum age of 21 for participating in the online contests.

Key New York lawmakers said Wednesday they're continuing efforts to legalize daily fantasy sports following Monday's agreement by its two biggest websites to stop taking bets in New York until July.

The nation's two largest daily fantasy sports websites have agreed to stop taking paid bets in New York, potentially through most of the professional baseball season, as lawmakers consider legalizing the popular online contests, the state attorney general announced Monday.

Daily fantasy sports companies say their industry remains viable despite a rocky start to 2016.

Daily fantasy sports operators raised objections Tuesday to some of the regulations proposed for the online contests in Massachusetts, including a minimum 21-year-old age and restrictions on how much players can spend each month.

Documents filed at the court examining the legality of daily fantasy sports in New York show a rapidly growing national business built on billions in entry fees.

Daily fantasy sports companies like FanDuel and Boston-based DraftKings would be allowed to continue operating in Massachusetts, but with age and advertising restrictions, disclosure requirements and other new rules proposed Thursday by the state's attorney general.