Former Jags Employee Who Stole Millions Files Lawsuit Against FanDuel

One of the most notable sports scandals in the US could soon change the entire industry.

Former Jacksonville Jaguars employee Amit Patel has filed a landmark lawsuit against FanDuel Sportsbook. The suit alleges that FanDuel did not follow responsible gaming protocols with Patel, offering him free bets, tickets to major events, and bonuses despite his massive losses. Patel argues that his betting habits should have led to FanDuel flagging his account, but instead, it pushed him to keep gambling. 

"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," Matthew Litt, Patel’s attorney, wrote in the lawsuit.

According to Patel, his VIP FanDuel host, Brett Krause, contacted him up to 100 times per day, including following up when Patel took breaks between wagers. In addition, the host moved text messages with Patel to his personal phone, avoiding detection by FanDuel. That violates the Anti-Money Laundering Protocol, which is a significant accusation to make.

If Patel is successful, it could open operators up to a flood of similar lawsuits from those suffering from gambling addiction, altering the industry forever. 

Host’s Attorney Calls Patel a “Fraudster”

FanDuel has not released an official statement, citing company policy around publically discussing lawsuits. However, the attorney representing the FanDuel host did not mince words when responding to the suit. 

"Amit Patel is a convicted fraudster and it's no surprise his complaint is full of misrepresentations," Theresa Trzaskoma, an attorney for Krause, told ESPN in a statement. "He lied about his life to Brett Krause, who at the time was a low-level FanDuel employee. Mr. Patel defrauded Mr. Krause, just as he did the Jaguars."

Krause’s lawyer’s strong words are not without merit, given that Patel is currently serving a 6.5-year sentence for stealing over $20 million from the Jaguars. While the lawsuit doesn’t deny his guilt in the case, his actions will undoubtedly be at the center of the defense.