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Amit Patel, a former employee of the Jacksonville Jaguars who embezzled over $22 million from the team, has filed a $250 million lawsuit against FanDuel. Currently serving a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Patel alleges that the online betting platform exploited his gambling addiction, enticing him with lavish incentives and failing to intervene when clear signs of problem gambling emerged. The suit, filed in Manhattan federal court, accuses FanDuel of knowingly encouraging Patel’s excessive betting while disregarding their own responsible gambling protocols.
Patel’s lawsuit paints a picture of relentless encouragement from FanDuel, claiming the company used a series of high-end incentives to keep him gambling. Between 2019 and 2023, Patel reportedly lost approximately $20 million on FanDuel’s fantasy sports platform. According to the lawsuit, FanDuel provided him with over $1.1 million in perks, including tickets to high-profile events like the Super Bowl, Formula One Grand Prix, and NCAA College Football Playoff championship games. He was also gifted with a customized basketball jersey featuring his FanDuel username, which, the lawsuit claims, created the illusion that he was a successful gambler.
Patel’s attorney, Matthew Litt, argues that while Amit Patel is not without blame, FanDuel played an active role in aggravating his gambling disorder. “The goal of the suit is a fair apportionment of responsibility among all responsible parties,” Litt said. He emphasized that while Patel is facing the full consequences of his actions, FanDuel has yet to be held accountable for its involvement in fostering Patel’s addiction.
The Role of FanDuel’s VIP Host
A significant part of the lawsuit centers on the actions of Brett Krause, Patel’s assigned VIP host at FanDuel. Krause allegedly communicated with Patel up to 100 times a day, often inquiring why he wasn’t placing bets if his gambling activity slowed down. According to the complaint, Krause knew Patel was struggling with gambling, yet continued to encourage him. In one instance, Krause allegedly moved their conversations to his personal phone, purportedly to avoid detection by FanDuel’s compliance department.
Krause’s attorney, Theresa Trzaskoma, has fired back against the allegations. “Amit Patel is a convicted fraudster and it’s no surprise his complaint is full of misrepresentations,” Trzaskoma told The Independent. She insisted that Krause was unaware of Patel’s deception, portraying him as another victim of Patel’s fraudulent behavior.
Patel’s Financial Misconduct and Legal Troubles
Patel’s legal troubles began when his embezzlement of $22 million from the Jaguars became public in late 2023. Hired by the Jaguars in 2018 as a financial planning coordinator, Patel used his position to funnel money from the team’s virtual credit card program. He was fired in February 2023 when the fraud was uncovered, and later that year, he pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and illegal monetary transactions.
During his four-year scheme, Patel’s lavish lifestyle, funded by the stolen money, included a condominium in Florida, private jet travel, a Tesla Model 3, cryptocurrency investments, and luxury watches. Despite his extravagant spending, Patel claims in the lawsuit that his gambling addiction caused him significant emotional distress throughout the period. He has since been diagnosed with a severe gambling disorder, which he says FanDuel exacerbated by encouraging his betting behavior.
The Jaguars themselves have taken legal action against Patel, filing a lawsuit in July 2023 demanding $66.6 million in damages, far exceeding the $22 million Patel stole. So far, Patel has repaid approximately $1.89 million of the amount he embezzled, according to court filings.
FanDuel’s Alleged Failure to Act
Patel’s lawsuit also highlights FanDuel’s data tracking capabilities, arguing that the company should have been able to identify his problem gambling. The suit claims that FanDuel’s precise analytics would have detected the “hallmark symptoms” of a gambling disorder, yet the company failed to act. Instead, FanDuel allegedly continued to encourage Patel to gamble, ignoring clear signs that he was suffering from an addiction.
According to the complaint, FanDuel was well aware of Patel’s employment with the Jacksonville Jaguars and knew he was prohibited from betting on football. Despite this, the lawsuit alleges that FanDuel turned a blind eye to the origin of Patel’s funds, allowing him to place bets with money that had been illegally obtained from his employer. The complaint further asserts that FanDuel’s failure to follow anti-money laundering procedures contributed to Patel’s financial downfall and the complete destruction of his professional and personal life.
FanDuel has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit, and the case is expected to draw attention as it moves through the courts. The outcome may have significant implications for how the betting industry manages responsible gambling practices, particularly for high-stakes VIP customers.
