Published on: October 2, 2024, 07:20h.
Last updated on: October 2, 2024, 07:20h.
An ex-financial manager for the Jacksonville Jaguars, currently serving a prison sentence for embezzlement from the team, has filed a lawsuit against FanDuel, accusing them of fueling his gambling habit.
Amit Patel, aged 31, from Ponte Vedra, Fla., is seeking $250M from FanDuel, claiming the company took advantage of his gambling addiction, reported ESPN.
FanDuel Exploited Patel
The lawsuit was filed in New York federal court, seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
[The] Defendants actively and intentionally targeted and preyed on [the] 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,” the lawsuit claims.
The legal action also revealed that FanDuel employees were aware that Patel was not allowed to gamble on the National Football League, as he worked for an NFL team.
Patel embezzled over $22M from the Jaguars, transferring $20M to FanDuel and $1M to DraftKings.
FanDuel provided him with $1.1M in credits and trips to various sporting events.
Patel was known for his interest in daily fantasy sports (DFS) and was a high-volume, high-stakes player.
Additionally, Brett Krause, a customer representative at FanDuel assigned to Patel, frequently contacted Patel, sometimes up to 100 times a day, pushing him to bet more.
Krause admitted to breaking anti-money laundering protocols and communicated with Patel through personal means to avoid detection.
Last year, Patel was diagnosed with a gambling disorder and has been seeking help from counseling and support groups.
Patel previously pleaded guilty to fraud charges and illegally transferring funds, totaling over $22M.
He used the embezzled funds for a lavish lifestyle, including private jets, luxury hotels, and expensive items.
Jaguars Pursue Legal Action Against Patel
In response to the theft, the Jaguars filed a lawsuit against Patel, seeking $66.6M in damages. They are also trying to hold FanDuel accountable for the stolen funds.
Casino.org reached out to FanDuel for a statement on Patel’s lawsuit but received no immediate response.
A FanDuel spokesperson stated that the company does not comment on ongoing legal matters.
An attorney representing Krause dismissed Patel’s claims as deceptive and highlighted Patel’s fraudulent behavior towards both Krause and the Jaguars.
Matthew Litt, Patel’s attorney, emphasized the lawsuit’s goal of assigning responsibility to all involved parties and preventing similar instances in the future.
The lawsuit acknowledges Amit’s accountability but aims to address the undue influence of FanDuel on his gambling addiction. The objective is not just for Patel but to prevent FanDuel from targeting vulnerable gamblers in the future.