Women Parlay Bettors Sue DraftKings, FanDuel In Rare Lawsuit
A pair of Louisiana women have sued DraftKings and FanDuel over alleged “predatory tactics” designed to induce excessive gambling, specifically on parlays.
Plaintiffs filed the 27-page lawsuit against the online sports betting giants on Oct. 22.
Toi Smith and Yolanda Perkins alleged illegal conduct from DraftKings and FanDuel. Both women said they have bet tens of thousands of dollars each on parlays.
The smallest amount you can bet on a FanDuel parlay is $0.09 (nine cents), per FanDuel’s official house rules. It’s 10 cents at DraftKings. The lawsuit didn’t say how many total parlay bets they made.
Both women said they started gambling years ago at around the time Louisiana legalized the betting apps.
Smith alleged that she tried to control her gambling, but DraftKings allowed her to continue betting.
“Despite often placing a $200 limit alert, the app consistently allows her to exceed the limit,” the lawsuit said.
Significance of the Case
The lawsuit filed in Orleans Parish Civil District Court includes a third plaintiff, Adrian Payton, a man, but it’s primarily a sports betting lawsuit brought by two women.
DraftKings and FanDuel have been sued many times over the years in cases involving alleged excessive gambling or addiction, including for sports betting and online casino play. The sports betting cases almost exclusively involve men. Litigation involving online casino gambling has included women as plaintiffs.
This case is rare regarding women suing as sports bettors.
Louisiana doesn’t authorize DraftKings or FanDuel to offer their respective online casino products.
Bottom Line
“These apps put a casino in every person’s pocket, with 24/7 access, and this lawsuit alleges the companies behind them used their data to find the people most vulnerable to continue gambling,” Jennifer Hoekstra, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement to WWL in New Orleans.
Although sports betting is not technically considered casino-style gambling, in-game betting and rapid parlay wagers may resemble some of the features of a slot machine.
The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages and other relief for the alleged misconduct.
It’s just the latest — and certainly not the last — time DraftKings and FanDuel have been sued over allegations of business misconduct. But it’s a notable case in terms of the gender component.
Image via orleanscivildistrictcourt.org
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