Published on: September 29, 2025, 03:25h.
Updated on: September 29, 2025, 03:39h.
- DrakKings faces lawsuit over accessibility for visually impaired users.
- Legal action references ADA and New York disability rights legislation.
- Advocacy groups assert that accessible design is a matter of civil rights.
DraftKings is under fire with a new lawsuit that diverges from its usual challenges regarding promotional tactics.
A class action was initiated last week in a federal court in New York, claiming that the company’s website prevents blind individuals from utilizing its fantasy sports and betting services, contravening federal disability regulations.
The plaintiff, Anthony Benson, a resident of the Bronx and permanently blind, asserts he encountered issues while trying to engage in daily fantasy sports contests and live sports betting on DraftKings this summer—finding the site incompatible with his screen-reading device.
Reading Websites as a Visually Impaired User
Individuals without sight depend on screen readers, which transform web content into audibly spoken words or braille. These technologies are effective only when pages are constructed with discernible labels and user-friendly navigation.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide detailed criteria for website development to ensure inclusivity for all users, including those with visual, auditory, mobility, or cognitive challenges.
The US Department of Justice has clarified that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is applicable to online services, emphasizing that barring disabled individuals from accessing websites is comparable to denying wheelchair users access to a building.
Benson’s complaint points out multiple issues, such as improperly labeled form fields, promotional content lacking alternative text, broken hyperlinks, and inaccessible pop-up windows that hinder screen-reading software.
“These obstacles were not mere temporary glitches,” the complaint emphasizes. “They represent systemic flaws that have barred the Plaintiff from browsing, evaluating, and participating in contests and wagering independently and with dignity.”
The plaintiff regards the DraftKings platform as a “place of public accommodation” under Title III of the ADA, while also invoking the New York City Human Rights Law, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the state’s Civil Rights Law.
Demand for Website Revamp
The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction obligating DraftKings to redesign its website, establish comprehensive accessibility policies, and ensure adherence to current industry standards.
The legal team for DraftKings has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
US courts are increasingly recognizing inaccessible websites as violations of the ADA. In 2008, Target reached a significant settlement with the National Federation of the Blind, agreeing to pay millions in damages and perform website upgrades.
DraftKings has encountered similar legal challenges previously. In 2022, a blind user filed a lawsuit citing comparable accessibility problems, but ultimately withdrew the case months later, possibly suggesting a settlement out of court.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in four adults in the US lives with some form of disability. Advocates for disability rights assert that providing accessible web design is a fundamental civil right.