- Ex-Jaguars employee Amit Patel, who stole $22 million from the franchise, is suing FanDuel
- Patel stole millions from the Jacksonville Jaguars to fund a FanDuel account
- Patel is suing FanDuel for $250 million for allegedly taking advantage of his problem gaming habit
An ex-Jacksonville Jaguars employee who pled guilty to wire fraud and engaging in an illegal monetary transaction after stealing millions from the NFL franchise is now suing FanDuel in federal court for allegedly preying on his gambling addiction.
Amit Patel, who gambled more than $20 million on daily fantasy sports with FanDuel from 2019 through 2023, has filed a civil suit against FanDuel in the Southern District of New York. Counsel for Patel wrote in the lawsuit that FanDuel knew of his gambling addiction and “intentionally targeted and preyed” on his disease with incentives to keep playing.
Patel is suing FanDuel for $250 million in punitive and compensatory damages.
Patel Claims FanDuel Took Advantage
Matthew Litt, counsel for Patel, wrote in the suit that FanDuel intentionally ignored its own responsible gaming protocol and turned a blind eye to avoid knowing the money Patel gambled with was not from a legitimate source.
“To be clear, this suit does not allege liability on the basis that Defendants passively permitted an addicted gambler to use its platform. Rather, this suit alleges violation of statutory and common law because Defendants actively and intentionally targeted and preyed on Plaintiff with incentives, credits, and gifts to create, nurture, expedite, and/or exacerbate his addiction with the only possible outcome that he would ultimately hit rock bottom,” Litt wrote in the lawsuit.
Sports Betting Dime reached out to FanDuel for comment on the lawsuit, but a FanDuel representative said the company does not comment on pending litigation.
Patel is currently serving a 6.5-year federal prison sentence after stealing more than $22 million from the Jacksonville Jaguars to fund his gambling habit. According to the newest lawsuit, Patel transferred more than $20 million to FanDuel to finance his daily fantasy sports addiction.
According to the lawsuit, FanDuel provided Patel with more than $1.1 million in FanDuel credit, an all-expense reimbursed trip to a Formula One Grand Prix event in Miami, an all-expense reimbursed trip, plus a suit, to the NCAA Football Championship game in January 2023, a reimbursed trip to the Super Bowl, and other lavish trips to ensure he would keep playing.
Litt noted that FanDuel continued to offer Patel these incentives even when he was exhibiting signs of problem gaming.
“The Defendants’ relentless enticements of the Plaintiff to gamble when they knew he suffered from gambling addiction and/or exhibited the signs of a problem gambler was an unconscionable act or practice and/or unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act,” he wrote.
Additionally, the lawsuit notes Patel was given VIP status from FanDuel and assigned him VIP host Brett Krause. Krause and Patel allegedly communicated as many as 100 times a day between late 2021 and early 2023, and on several occasions Krause would contact Patel “on a day he was not gambling to find out why he was not gambling.”
The lawsuit alleges FanDuel’s actions were in violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, were an act of negligence against Patel, engaged in conspiracy to commit tort, and intentionally inflicted emotional distress.
Jaguars Have Sued Patel
Patel used the team’s virtual credit card to fund $20 million on a FanDuel account and $1 million on a DraftKings account for daily fantasy sports.
After Patel pled guilty, the Jaguars filed a lawsuit against him for $66.6 million in damages. The lawsuit claimed Patel stole the majority of funds from the NFL franchise over a period of eight months.
The Jaguars allegedly asked FanDuel to pay for the losses, but did not levy a lawsuit against the company.
Former Jacksonville Jaguars employee Amit Patel has filed a lawsuit against FanDuel, one of the largest sports betting companies in the United States, alleging that the company exploited his gambling addiction. Patel, who worked for the Jaguars as a data analyst, claims that FanDuel took advantage of his vulnerability and encouraged him to continue placing bets despite knowing about his addiction.
According to Patel’s lawsuit, FanDuel provided him with free bets and other incentives to keep him gambling, even after he expressed concerns about his addiction. The lawsuit also alleges that FanDuel failed to provide adequate resources or support for Patel to address his gambling problem, ultimately leading to financial and emotional distress.
This case sheds light on the darker side of the booming sports betting industry, where companies like FanDuel are accused of prioritizing profits over the well-being of their customers. Gambling addiction is a serious issue that affects millions of people worldwide, and it is crucial for companies in the gambling industry to take responsibility for their role in exacerbating this problem.
In response to the lawsuit, FanDuel has denied any wrongdoing and stated that they take responsible gambling seriously. However, this case highlights the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the sports betting industry to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
As the legal battle between Amit Patel and FanDuel unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of gambling addiction and the importance of holding companies accountable for their actions. Hopefully, this case will lead to greater awareness and action to address the issue of gambling addiction in the sports betting industry.
