Jailed Ex-Jaguars employee sues FanDuel for gambling addiction

Neha Soni October 9, 2024

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Jailed Ex-Jaguars employee sues FanDuel for gambling addiction

A former financial manager for the National Football League’s (NFL) Jacksonville Jaguars who stole $22 million from the team is suing FanDuel for $250 million. He has filed the lawsuit in federal court, charging the betting company preyed on his gambling addiction.

Amit Patel is currently serving a six and a half-year prison sentence in South Carolina for stealing from the Jacksonville Jaguars. He claimed that FanDuel disregarded its own policies about responsible gaming and money laundering prevention.

What does the lawsuit claim?

FanDuel was accused in the lawsuit of knowing that Patel was not allowed to legally gamble because he was employed by the NFL team, where he worked for five years, beginning in 2018. He added that the $20 million he wagered on daily fantasy sports tournaments over a period of years was either stolen or not from a genuine source.

It is claimed that FanDuel and its parent companies knew Patel was an “addicted gambler.” Furthermore, it claims that the defendants “preyed” on Patel, by “allegedly did so “by “using its information about his addiction to target him for enticements.”

The lawsuit also alleged that FanDuel gave Patel over $1.1 million in gambling credits and enticed him to keep on playing. Adding that his personal host contacted him up to 100 times a day. On several occasions, his host called him to ask why he had not placed a bet that day if he had not.

The enticements also included the company lavishing gifts including trips to the Super Bowl, the Masters golf tournament, auto racing, and college basketball tournaments.

Patel’s lawyer, Matthew Litt said, “The complaint certainly does not claim the addicted gambler is blameless, but the suit does try to apportion responsibility in a way that accounts for FanDuel’s very active involvement in his gambling addiction.”

Patel pleaded guilty to wire fraud and other charges in December and agreed to repay the money he stole from the team. Prosecutors said he used the stolen money to buy sports memorabilia, a country club membership, spa treatments, and tickets to sporting events and concerts. The money also went to private jet charters, gambling, and a Tesla Model 3 sedan, among others.

The lawsuit claims that FanDuel violated Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, acted with negligence, intentionally inflicted emotional distress, and engaged in civil conspiracy. Patel is seeking $250 million for compensatory and punitive damages, interest, costs of suit, and other relief.

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