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Sports Gambling Lawsuit: What You Need to Know

By the Editorial Staff | Updated June 2026 | No Fee Unless You Win

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling: The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-522-4700 or at ncpgambling.org. Call, text, or chat confidentially.

People who lost significant sums on DraftKings or FanDuel, started gambling on these apps as minors, or developed documented gambling disorders may have legal options. Lawsuits allege these platforms were designed to promote compulsive betting without adequate warnings or safeguards. Attorneys are reviewing claims nationwide.

Case at a Glance

  • What’s Alleged: DraftKings and FanDuel used addictive design features to promote compulsive gambling without adequate warnings, safeguards, or protections for vulnerable users
  • Platforms Involved: DraftKings and FanDuel (app or online use; both qualify)
  • Three Paths to Qualify: Started gambling before age 18, lost more than $75,000 on these platforms combined, or lost more than $10,000 and has a documented gambling disorder or related harm
  • Documentation Required: Screenshots of losses showing qualifying amounts, or evidence of minor-age use
  • Current Status: Active litigation; cases being filed and investigated nationwide
  • Cost to You: $0 upfront. Contingency fee only.

What Is the DraftKings and FanDuel Lawsuit About?

DraftKings and FanDuel are two of the largest sports betting and daily fantasy sports platforms in the United States. Since the Supreme Court cleared the way for widespread sports gambling legalization in 2018, both companies have grown rapidly, spending billions on advertising and acquiring millions of users. For many people, using these apps has led to financial devastation, family breakdown, and serious mental health consequences.

Lawsuits filed against both companies allege that DraftKings and FanDuel were not simply providing entertainment. Plaintiffs allege these platforms were deliberately engineered to promote compulsive use, using algorithmic targeting, personalized promotions, variable reward systems, and other design features that exploit known vulnerabilities in how people respond to gambling. These are the same psychological mechanisms behind other forms of addiction, and plaintiffs argue these companies understood exactly what they were doing.

The lawsuits go beyond individual losses. They allege that DraftKings and FanDuel failed to implement meaningful safeguards, failed to warn users about the documented risk of gambling addiction, and in some cases actively targeted users who showed signs of problem gambling with additional promotions rather than intervention. These design and marketing choices are what give the litigation its legal weight, separate from the actions of any individual user.

These cases are being filed and investigated across the country. Litigation status may change as cases develop. A case review can help determine whether a specific situation may qualify.

App Use Is Not Limited to Sports Betting

These claims are not restricted to sports betting activity. DraftKings and FanDuel also offer daily fantasy sports contests, casino-style games, and other wagering formats. Use of any of these features on either platform may be relevant to a claim. What matters is that the gambling activity occurred on DraftKings or FanDuel specifically.

Which Platforms Are Covered?

Under current intake guidelines, claims are being reviewed for users of the following platforms. Use may have occurred through the app or online. Both qualify.

  • DraftKings
  • FanDuel

Losses on Other Platforms Do Not Count: Only losses on DraftKings and FanDuel are considered when calculating qualifying loss amounts. Losses on other sports betting apps, online casinos, or gambling platforms are not included in the threshold calculation under current guidelines. Combined losses across both DraftKings and FanDuel do count toward the threshold. These criteria are subject to change.

Three Paths to Qualifying

There are three separate ways a situation may qualify under current guidelines. At least one of the following must apply. Eligibility criteria may change as the litigation develops.

Path 1: Started Gambling Before Age 18

The injured party began gambling on DraftKings or FanDuel while under the age of 18. If the person is still a minor, the original account holder (for instance, a parent or older friend of the claimant) does not need to be willing to participate in the litigation. Screenshots of qualifying losses are not required for minor-age cases. A case review can help assess what documentation may be available.

Path 2: Lost More Than $75,000 on DraftKings or FanDuel

The injured party lost more than $75,000 on DraftKings, FanDuel, or a combination of both platforms. Losses on other gambling platforms are not counted toward this threshold. Screenshots of losses showing the qualifying amount will be required. These criteria are subject to change.

Path 3: Lost More Than $10,000 and Has a Documented Gambling Disorder or Related Harm

The injured party lost more than $10,000 on DraftKings or FanDuel combined, and has a formal medical diagnosis or documented record of one of the following: a gambling disorder diagnosis from a medical professional, an attempted suicide recorded by a mental or physical healthcare provider, or a death by suicide where suicide is listed as the cause of death on the death certificate. Screenshots of losses and documentation of the diagnosis or harm will both be required.

Documentation Required

For loss-based claims, screenshots of account activity showing the qualifying loss amount are required. For minor-age claims, loss documentation is not required but other records may be helpful. For claims involving a gambling disorder, attempted suicide, or suicide, a formal recorded diagnosis or medical record is required. You do not need to have everything gathered before reaching out. An attorney can help identify what documentation exists and what may be needed to move forward.

Alleged Injuries Being Reported

The harms in these cases extend well beyond financial loss. Attorneys are reviewing claims involving documented financial devastation, diagnosed gambling disorders, and in the most serious cases, suicide and attempted suicide linked to gambling use on these platforms. All injuries must have a formal record in order to support a claim. Eligibility criteria may change as the litigation develops.

Alleged harms include severe financial loss from gambling on DraftKings or FanDuel, a formal diagnosis of gambling disorder or addiction from a medical professional, attempted suicide that is documented in a medical or therapy record, death by suicide where the cause of death is listed on the death certificate, and related mental and physical health consequences tied to compulsive platform use.

A Formal Record Is Required for Each Injury: Every qualifying injury must have a documented record. A gambling disorder diagnosis must come from a medical professional. An attempted suicide must be present in a medical or therapy record. For a suicide death, the cause of death must be listed as suicide on the death certificate. A case review can help assess whether the records you have available may be sufficient.

Why These Cases Have Legal Weight

Sports gambling apps like DraftKings and FanDuel are built on the same behavioral science that makes other forms of compulsive behavior so difficult to stop. Variable reward systems, personalized odds, push notifications, and targeted promotions are not random features. Plaintiffs allege they were deliberately implemented to maximize engagement and spending among users who show signs of compulsive behavior.

Internal documents and research from the broader online gambling industry have raised significant questions about whether platforms like these took adequate steps to identify and protect vulnerable users. Plaintiffs allege that rather than reducing harm, DraftKings and FanDuel accelerated it, actively marketing to users whose patterns clearly indicated a problem rather than intervening or referring them to help.

What the Lawsuits Allege

  • Negligent Design: Plaintiffs allege that DraftKings and FanDuel built their platforms with features specifically intended to promote compulsive use, including variable reward systems, personalized promotions, and behavioral targeting that exploited known psychological vulnerabilities.
  • Failure to Warn: Lawsuits claim that both platforms failed to adequately warn users about the documented risk of gambling addiction and the specific design features that make these apps more difficult to stop using than traditional forms of gambling.
  • Negligent Marketing to Vulnerable Users: Some complaints allege that both companies identified users who showed signs of problem gambling and responded by increasing promotional offers and engagement tactics rather than reducing access or providing intervention.
  • Failure to Implement Safeguards: Plaintiffs allege that DraftKings and FanDuel did not implement meaningful responsible gambling tools, spending limits, or self-exclusion mechanisms that could have reduced harm to vulnerable users.
  • Products Liability: Some complaints allege that the platforms themselves were defective products because they were designed in ways that foreseeably caused addiction, financial harm, and serious mental health consequences without adequate disclosures or protections.

Subject to Change: The legal theories being pursued, the qualifying loss thresholds, the documented injuries required, and the overall status of this litigation may all change as cases develop. This page will be updated regularly. A legal review is the best way to get current information specific to your situation.

Who May Have a Claim

A claim may be available for people who used DraftKings or FanDuel and meet at least one of the three qualifying paths described above. The person must be able to provide screenshots of losses showing qualifying amounts, except in minor-age cases. Any documented injury such as a gambling disorder diagnosis, attempted suicide, or suicide must have a formal medical record supporting it.

If the injured party began gambling on these platforms before age 18, the original account holder does not need to participate in the litigation for the claim to move forward. If a person has died by suicide and the death is linked to gambling on these platforms, a family member or authorized representative may be able to file on their behalf.

You do not need everything organized before reaching out. A case review is free, confidential, and can help identify what documentation exists and whether your situation may qualify.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a lawsuit against DraftKings or FanDuel if I lost a large amount of money and became addicted to gambling?

You may qualify if you lost more than $75,000 on DraftKings or FanDuel combined, or if you lost more than $10,000 and have a formal diagnosis of gambling disorder or a documented gambling-related harm such as attempted suicide. Screenshots of your account losses are required for loss-based claims. A case review can help assess whether your specific situation may qualify under current guidelines.

Can a minor or their parent file a DraftKings or FanDuel lawsuit if they started gambling before age 18?

Yes. If the injured party began gambling on DraftKings or FanDuel before the age of 18, that is one of the qualifying paths under current intake guidelines. The original account holder (for instance, a parent or older friend of the claimant) does not need to be willing to participate in the litigation for a minor-age claim to move forward. Screenshots of qualifying losses are not required for minor-age cases. A case review can help assess what information and documentation may be available.

Do losses on other gambling apps count toward the qualifying loss threshold for a DraftKings or FanDuel lawsuit?

No. Only losses on DraftKings and FanDuel are counted toward the qualifying loss thresholds under current intake guidelines. Losses on other sports betting apps, online casinos, or other gambling platforms are not included in the calculation. However, combined losses across both DraftKings and FanDuel do count toward the threshold together.

What documentation do I need to file a sports gambling lawsuit against DraftKings or FanDuel?

For loss-based claims, screenshots of account activity showing the qualifying loss amount are required. For claims involving a gambling disorder, a formal diagnosis from a medical professional is required. For claims involving attempted suicide, the attempt must be documented in a medical or therapy record. For suicide deaths, suicide must be listed as the cause of death on the death certificate. You do not need to gather all of these before reaching out. An attorney can help identify what exists and what may be needed.

Can a family member file a lawsuit if their loved one died by suicide linked to DraftKings or FanDuel gambling?

A claim may be available if a person died by suicide and the cause of death is listed as suicide on the death certificate, and the death is linked to gambling on DraftKings or FanDuel. The family member filing must have authority to act on behalf of the deceased. A case review can help determine whether the specific circumstances may qualify. We are deeply sorry for your loss.

Does the DraftKings and FanDuel lawsuit cover daily fantasy sports or only sports betting?

The claims are not limited to sports betting. Use of any feature on DraftKings or FanDuel, including daily fantasy sports contests, casino-style games, and other wagering formats available on these platforms, may be relevant to a claim. What matters is that the activity occurred on DraftKings or FanDuel specifically.

How much does it cost to find out if I qualify for a DraftKings or FanDuel lawsuit?

Nothing. The case evaluation is free and confidential. If a case is accepted, attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and no legal fees unless the case results in a settlement or verdict in your favor. No outcome or recovery can be guaranteed.

Think You May Have a Case?

Our team works with people who have suffered serious financial, mental health, or personal harm linked to DraftKings or FanDuel. A case review is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation.

  • A brief conversation about which platform was used, how much was lost, and what harm occurred
  • No documents needed before we talk
  • No fees unless your case results in a recovery

See if Your Situation Qualifies →

Eligibility criteria may change. The sooner you reach out, the more options you may have.

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