Published on: November 18, 2025, 12:26h.
Updated on: November 18, 2025, 12:26h.
- Baltimore City initiated legal action against DraftKings and FanDuel in April 2025
- The consumer protection lawsuit will proceed in the city’s court system
The lawsuit filed by Baltimore City against DraftKings and FanDuel, citing violations of the Consumer Protection Ordinance (CPO), is set to be adjudicated in the city’s court.
In April, the Baltimore City Council, along with Mayor Brandon Scott and the Baltimore City Law Department, accused the major sportsbook companies of preying on vulnerable gamblers, particularly young males, in violation of the city’s Consumer Protection Ordinance.
Casino.org highlighted that the complaint detailed how the mobile sports betting leader employs a dual strategy to exploit Baltimore residents.
After being named as defendants, legal representatives for DraftKings and FanDuel sought to move the case to Maryland’s District Court. A federal judge recently dismissed this request, citing legal principles that permit federal courts to decline cases involving intricate state or municipal laws and/case policies.
In 2023, improvements were made to Baltimore’s CPO, granting the city greater legal power to combat companies deemed to engage in unfair, deceptive, or abusive conduct.
“This legislation allows the City of Baltimore to enhance our efforts to shield residents from exploitative business practices,” asserted Mayor Scott during the signing of City Council Bill 23-0424.
In March, Baltimore established a Department of Consumer Protection aimed at investigating reports of misleading and harmful consumer practices.
Ongoing Case
With the Maryland federal court declining jurisdiction, the lawsuit by Baltimore against DraftKings and FanDuel is reverting to the circuit court.
The plaintiffs assert that the sportsbooks, active in Maryland since November 2022, have employed advanced analytics to target at-risk gamblers who lack skills in sports betting, using personalized incentives to optimize their profits. The city is seeking a jury trial.
“DraftKings and FanDuel prioritize corporate profits over the welfare of Baltimoreans, ensnaring users into their gambling platforms and leveraging extensive data to target and exploit the most vulnerable. Their predatory tactics have severely affected our community, and we are committed to holding them accountable and safeguarding our residents,” stated Baltimore City Solicitor Ebony Thompson from the Baltimore City Department of Law.
Market Dominance
In the initial four months of Maryland’s 2026 fiscal year (July 2025 to October 2025), DraftKings and FanDuel stand unparalleled in the realm of sports betting revenue.
FanDuel processed in excess of $889.4 million in online wagers, retaining more than $93.4 million after payouts and marketing costs including promotional offers. DraftKings managed $668.4 million in mobile bets, generating a revenue of $59.3 million.
FanDuel partners with Live! Casino & Hotel for its Maryland operations, while DraftKings operates solely through an online sports betting license.
BetMGM is the closest competitor to FanDuel and DraftKings within Maryland. Through its agreement with MGM National Harbor, BetMGM garnered $159.1 million in mobile bets, yielding a net revenue of $17.9 million during the same four months.