(Updates attribution; adds background, company comments)
WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The New York state attorney general on Tuesday ordered the fantasy sports sites DraftKings and FanDuel to stop accepting bets in New York, saying that the operations were essentially illegal gambling, according to copies of letters to the companies seen by Reuters.
The letters from the office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said that the fantasy sites were considered gambling because customers "are clearly placing bets on events outside of their control or influence, specifically on the real-game performance of professional athletes."
The letters were sent to both DraftKings and FanDuel and given to Reuters by a spokesman for Schneiderman.