The daily fantasy sports companies DraftKings and FanDuel are nearing a settlement agreement with New York’s attorney general over claims that they engaged in false advertising when they spent nearly a half-billion dollars blitzing the national airwaves with commercials last year, according to two people familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity because negotiations were continuing.

The agreement with the attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, was expected to cost the companies a total of $8 million to $12 million, according to the two people. It would also require the companies to acknowledge the findings of Mr. Schneiderman’s investigation into fraudulent practices and perhaps require them to institute even stronger consumer protections than those adopted in August when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo made the games legal in New York.

Justine Sacco, a spokeswoman for FanDuel, said, “While we cannot comment on the details, we can confirm that we have been in ongoing settlement negotiations with the New York attorney general’s office. They have been tough but fair, and we hope to reach an acceptable resolution.”

A spokesman for DraftKings did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday.

DraftKings and FanDuel are so short of cash, according to the two people familiar with the negotiations, that they have asked Mr. Schneiderman’s office if they can pay the final settlement in installments, and they have conceded that they are having difficulty meeting their day-to-day obligations.