Two weeks after a New York Supreme Court judge ruled fantasy sports were against the law, the Illinois attorney general's hammer came down again, this time in the fourth-largest market, saying DFS constitutes illegal gambling under state law.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan explained in an opinion released two days before Christmas that DFS doesn't matter if it involves "luck or technology" because state law prohibits both.

"Without legislation specifically exempting everyday fantasy sports competitions from gambling provisions, I believe everyday fantasy sports competitions constitute illegal gambling under Illinois law," she wrote.

Madigan, a Democrat, also wrote to two industry giants, DraftKings and FanDuel, who said she expected both to shut down operations in Illinois.

Both companies responded with statements condemning Madigan's comments.

"Chicago may be the best sports city in the United States," FanDuel said in a statement posted on her website. "So her opinion is out of us as to why the attorney general is trying to tell 13.5 million voters that they can no longer play fantasy sports as they know it. Let's hope the legislature returns the game they love to the people of Illinois."

DraftKings attorney David Boyce said in a statement that his client "strictly disagreed" with the opinion and why it was behind it.

"We believe that everyday fantasy sports that Illinois residents have been doing for years are legal under state law. We also believe that, as the attorney general said, this is a policy question that state legislators have to address.

"This is why we expect to work with lawmakers like Representative Mike Zalevski and others who want to enact thoughtful and commonsense legislation that protects consumers' right to compete while also adopting appropriate consumer protection laws.

"The company plans to immediately pursue a judicial solution to the right to provide Illinois residents with daily fantasy sports competitions. As it does, the company will continue to follow all relevant laws and follow court instructions. The company will maintain the status quo until that resolution is reached."

Zalewski, who introduced a bill to regulate everyday fantasy sports in October, posted his response to Madigan's comments on his Facebook page, saying, "I greatly respect the work of the attorney general as a consumer advocate. I don't think everyday fantasy sports have anything to do with gambling, but I explained my concern that Illinois law was unclear on this issue from the beginning of my work.

"Now that we are clearer, I look forward to working with all concerned in the upcoming legislative session to help Illinois residents continue these contests and provide the strong consumer protections they need for a safe and fun game."

Casino Opens & Expands: Bicycle Casino, Luxury Boutique Hotel Realize '10 Year Vision'

When the first guests entered The Bicycle Hotel & Casino earlier this month, Robert H. Carter felt great satisfaction. For nearly three decades, The Bicycle Casino – or what it often refers to as The Bike – has been an iconic figure in the world of poker. But now, the landmark property is a major figure in Los Angeles hospitality, with the opening of a privately funded seven-story boutique luxury hotel for $50 million, thanks to what Carter and managing partner and CEO Hashem Minaiy called a "vision of a decade."

"I took great pride in our organization," Carter, president of Carter Management Group Inc., the general partner of The Bicycle Hotel & Casino, told Casino City when asked what he thought about the new hotel when it was officially unveiled. "The whole Bike team came together to make this happen. My partner, Hassem Mini, shared this vision many years ago. In the end, everyone accepted the project, took responsibility, and contributed more than expected. It's a completely realized dream, and it's a perfect complement to the casino."

Located in Bell Gardens, 15 minutes from downtown L.A., The Bike's new four-star hotel experience begins with a four-lane Forte-Coacher. Once inside, the lobby lights up with a custom chandelier with 1,660 crystal strands and a layered circular floor design inspired by bike wheels. Among the 99 rooms, there are three suites, including the classic suite (648 square feet), the signature bike suite (904 square feet), the governor's suite (1,359 square feet), and the presidential suite (2,007 square feet, two bedrooms, a formal living room and a Jacuzzi bathtub).

On the second floor, there is a state-of-the-art fitness center, outdoor pool deck with cabana, spa and sauna. There is also a 9,000-square-foot event space and a private meeting space for special business presentations, conventions and banquets.

The new microbrewery, Bike Brewery, comes with a full menu and 28 beers on tap, including a self-developed blonde ale called Bike Brew.

"Guests are ecstatic about 28 beers, including 18 draft beers and 28 TVs," Carter said of the new brewery. "The brewery offers local vacations with endless opportunities for private events, beer pairing events, or casual family dinners."

Speaking of family, the new hotel now opens up a place with a whole new demographic.

"We wanted to be more than just a card room," Carter said. "The competitor operates as a card room with some amenities, but we trained our team and attracted experienced executives to treat each area of the business like our main business.

"We promote our hotels and casinos as holiday destinations. Whether you're coming from somewhere close or far away, coming for an event or enjoying a social scene in the lounge, you can have a great meal or enjoy world-class games at our restaurant. The hotel allows us to expand our market geographically, to areas that have been blocked from competing due to lack of facilities, for example. Having the hotel will not only increase our gaming market, but will also attract guests who come to the area for business trips, both at home and abroad."  파워볼사이트 추천

Of course, The Bike is already known as one of the largest poker venues in the United States, hosting the World Series of Poker Circuit events, World Poker Tours, Mega Millions Series, and Card Player Tour Series. The casino is also one of the top employers of the Bell Garden and a major sponsor of The Bike Casino Foundation, which supports a variety of non-profit organizations designed to influence the lives of youth residing in the Bell Garden.