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Hey guys, just wondering if you guys have any more information about this, but I tried signing up for a Yahoo Pro league this morning and when I got to the billing page one of the states shaded out was Illinois, thus disabling me from entering the contest. I believe Arizona among some other states where shaded out, and all it says is you can't enter if you live in one of the shaded out states.

I understand that some states don't allow you to enter fantasy sports contests but I never thought Illinois was one of them, unless did something change Greg or Tom or is this Yahoo's way of just covering themselves?

I've never heard of any fantasy contest exempting Illinois before. I feel like I understand why some states are exempt from big fantasy companies, but I've never heard Illinois mentioned before. I have no idea.

Thanks Greg, I e-mailed them and will let you guys know what they say...

Greg Ambrosius wrote:I've never heard of any fantasy contest exempting Illinois before. I feel like I understand why some states are exempt from big fantasy companies, but I've never heard Illinois mentioned before. I have no idea.

Considering the crooked rat bastards in every part of state and local governments in Illinois, they probably want to dip their grabby paws into our money and tax us on it in some way.

The Mighty Men wrote:

Greg Ambrosius wrote:I've never heard of any fantasy contest exempting Illinois before. I feel like I understand why some states are exempt from big fantasy companies, but I've never heard Illinois mentioned before. I have no idea.

Considering the crooked rat bastards in every part of state and local governments in Illinois, they probably want to dip their grabby paws into our money and tax us on it in some way.

Next time tell us how you really feel about Illinois government.

We have some relatives and friends who like to pile in an rv and a couple of other vehicles and make a pilgrimage from the east coast to Colorado.
Each year, they plan their trip in order to avoid Illinois. Even as just passerbys, they find it revolting to pay the exhorbitant taxes that Illinois has for gas, hotels, etc.
Bad word of mouth has got to hurt their tourism dollars....

Illinois - the only state with a guarantee of two terms for Governor. At least one in office and at least one in the pen.

DOUGHBOYS wrote:We have some relatives and friends who like to pile in an rv and a couple of other vehicles and make a pilgrimage from the east coast to Colorado.
Each year, they plan their trip in order to avoid Illinois. Even as just passerbys, they find it revolting to pay the exhorbitant taxes that Illinois has for gas, hotels, etc.
Bad word of mouth has got to hurt their tourism dollars....

The toll to get into the state from Wisconsin just cost me $2.80; it was $1.50 before Jan. 1. Side tolls are now $1.90 that were $1.00. I don't have enough coins in the car to get back out of this state!!

Greg Ambrosius wrote:

DOUGHBOYS wrote:We have some relatives and friends who like to pile in an rv and a couple of other vehicles and make a pilgrimage from the east coast to Colorado.
Each year, they plan their trip in order to avoid Illinois. Even as just passerbys, they find it revolting to pay the exhorbitant taxes that Illinois has for gas, hotels, etc.
Bad word of mouth has got to hurt their tourism dollars....

The toll to get into the state from Wisconsin just cost me $2.80; it was $1.50 before Jan. 1. Side tolls are now $1.90 that were $1.00. I don't have enough coins in the car to get back out of this state!!

I love when people complain about the tollway. The tollway doesn't go anywhere that you can't get to by taking an alternate route. You don't wan't to pay the price, go a different way. Sure it might be a slower trip, more miles and burn more gas; but hey, you didn't have to pay the $2.80.

russell- you seem like a great guy- but enough is enough in illinois. couple things about the "toll road". when it was put in it was said that the tolls were "temporary" just like the state income tax. even if we forget that- a 60 % in the income tax and almost a 100%increase in tolls in 1 year- are you kidding me. imagine if you owned a business and rasied a price 60 per cent- you would be out of business. it is a tax on people that work for crying out loud- and our unemployment is one of the highest in the land. no- they can't take different routes with gas prices. the only difference between illinois and california is california is way more pretty to look at and has a better climate. we will lose thousands of young people to other states and not the ones that are out of work. old people will leave in droves- not the ones that need $ but the ones that have $. FINALLY a toll road is supposed to be pay as you go- they are taking $ away from the toll road for many other things- that is just wrong. just like the lotto. etc etc. if you have kidds you better think this through. of course if you are one of the ever increasing members of the u.s that live off the tax payers- what can i say ? john, jack and and I have had enough- along with many others.

Try crossing the Verrazano bridge in Ny from Brooklyn to Staten Island......13bucks

4.50 a gallon here in California, 175 ticket for talking on cell phone, most places over 500.00 for under 10mph over the speed limit, 300.00 for stop sign ticket, 350.00 for riding in a toll lane, 9% sales tax, 9-12% state income tax.... unfortunately we have not seen anything yet, especially the younger generation... they are so screwed it is not even funny.... and that is sad, very sad....I need my IPAD 3 and my IPHONE 4 that costs Apple a grand total of 48-75.00 to produce in China that i will gladly pay 600.00 for on my credit card.... just my two cents.... someone told me it was over 40.00 in tolls to get from the northeast to spring training in florida..last time i made that trip it was about 15.00 and not that long ago...

Mike

I’m certainly not an expert on the Illinois tollway system, that’s one thing I can say. However, in this case I’m not really sure I follow your complaints. To the best of my knowledge, the tollways in Illinois are a self-sustaining entity.

They rely on the revenue produced from the tolls, not from any state or federal taxes. They represent the ultimate example of a 'fair use' tax. They are built, maintained, and modernized by revenues received from their use; and they do so without prejudice or preference as to who is paying that toll.

In my first comment I suggested that if you didn’t like the price for driving the road – “take an alternate route”. It was sort of a flippant remark that I realize is not really an option for most people. Yet your comments seem almost as strange to me. You seem to feel ( at least the way I read your remarks), that people are entitled to the freedom of movement that our toll-roads provide, without actually having to pay for them; or at least only paying some amount that you deem appropriate.

It wasn’t a private corporation that built the tollway, or any road for that matter, it was our government. And we all have benefitted from it in one way or another. But there is a price to pay – taxes, or in this specific case, tolls. I know a lot of people say, “the roads are already built, why do we have to keep paying?” My answer is; we pay for the same reason that our parents paid before us – so that our children can move about on safe, open roads, just as we do.

Do I like paying tolls? Of course not. And no, I’m not thrilled that they went up in price. On the other hand, I know Illinois has some of the best tollways in the country and that we aren’t Wisconsin .

Wisconsin’s state highways (by their own admission) are falling apart and they are now seriously debating adding tolls to Wisconsin’s interstates as a way to raise revenue to repair the aging surfaces.

Anyway – I guess we can disagree on this Mike, just as long as we don’t bring it to the draft table . I’ll see you in three weeks .

Below is the reply that I received from Yahoo today, I edited some out like the representative's name from Yahoo. Basically, they suggest contacting an attorney. Yeah, like I have one at the ready just to talk to me about this at no cost!

It's interesting because on Fantasy Baseball Cafe, there is a thread about the same subject, i.e. Illinois banned from Yahoo leagues...

"Thank you for writing to Yahoo! Fantasy Sports.

I understand you would like to know why Pro Leagues are unavailable in
Illinois. I am happy to address this for you.

Unfortunately, Yahoo! Fantasy Sports Pro Leagues are only open to legal
residents of the District of Columbia or the 50 United States, except
for residents of Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana,
Vermont, and Washington, where the Contest is prohibited by law. You
also must be at least 18 years of age to participate.

For your specific state's laws regarding why a Pro League may be
prohibited there, you will need to contact a local attorney who can
advise you.

I hope this addresses your issue and apologize for the inconvenience
this has caused.

Thank you again for contacting Yahoo! Fantasy Sports.

Regards,

J***

Yahoo! Fantasy Sports Customer Care
Sports Fantasy Baseball Pro Tech T1"

Heres a portion of the Illinois gambling law text:

(b) Participants in any of the following activities shall not be convicted of gambling therefor:
(1) Agreements to compensate for loss caused by the happening of chance including without limitation contracts of indemnity or guaranty and life or health or accident insurance.

(2) Offers of prizes, award or compensation to the actual contestants in any bona fide contest for the determination of skill, speed, strength or endurance or to the owners of animals or vehicles entered in such contest.

Fantasy sports being a game of skill would not fall into gambling

Plus you would think that if it was illegal in the state Greg and Tom couldn't hold their drafts here.

ChiScottieBaseball wrote:Below is the reply that I received from Yahoo today, I edited some out like the representative's name from Yahoo. Basically, they suggest contacting an attorney. Yeah, like I have one at the ready just to talk to me about this at no cost!

It's interesting because on Fantasy Baseball Cafe, there is a thread about the same subject, i.e. Illinois banned from Yahoo leagues...

"Thank you for writing to Yahoo! Fantasy Sports.

I understand you would like to know why Pro Leagues are unavailable in
Illinois. I am happy to address this for you.

Unfortunately, Yahoo! Fantasy Sports Pro Leagues are only open to legal
residents of the District of Columbia or the 50 United States, except
for residents of Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana,
Vermont, and Washington, where the Contest is prohibited by law. You
also must be at least 18 years of age to participate.

For your specific state's laws regarding why a Pro League may be
prohibited there, you will need to contact a local attorney who can
advise you.

I hope this addresses your issue and apologize for the inconvenience
this has caused.

Thank you again for contacting Yahoo! Fantasy Sports.

Regards,

J***

Yahoo! Fantasy Sports Customer Care
Sports Fantasy Baseball Pro Tech T1"

That is a copout answer. If they believe it is banned in Illinois, they should be able to say why that is. But I'm sure you also are dealing with someone who has no idea how to answer honestly that question.

russ- well written but completely incorrect. i sent you a private. btw- just an fwi- the government does nothing. they did not build the toll roads- we did. it is our $. i wish to the good lord what you said was true- and sadly some people still think "the government" does things for us.

Headhunters, I am with you 100% on the toll road debate...one of mankind's worst ideas. I've been stuck too many times at a toll booth for 20 minutes, 30 mintues, an hour, etc. waiting, waiting, waiting...

The argument that the people who use the roads, pay for the roads, is hogwash. I pay for a thousand things through our goverment that I receive aboslutely no benefit from.