Former Jaguars Employee Faces Potential Extended Imprisonment in $22 Million Fraud Trial
In a shocking turn of events, Amit Patel, a former finance manager for the Jacksonville Jaguars who was sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison in March 2024 for embezzling over $22 million, has filed a civil lawsuit against FanDuel. The lawsuit, initiated in 2024, alleges that FanDuel "exploited" Patel's gambling addiction by failing to follow its own responsible gaming and anti-money laundering protocols, and by actively encouraging his gambling through frequent contact with a VIP host [1][2][3].
**Current Status of the Lawsuit**
The lawsuit, seeking $250 million in damages, alleges that FanDuel ignored suspicious activity and continued to incentivize Patel's gambling despite clear signs of addiction [2][3]. The complaint further alleges that FanDuel’s VIP host contacted Patel around 100 times per day during 2021–2023, and that on days Patel did not gamble, the host would ask for reasons. Patel’s legal team claims FanDuel “preyed” on him with incentives, credits, and gifts [1][2].
Patel further claims that FanDuel knowingly circumvented its own Know Your Customer (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML), and customer due diligence (CDD) requirements [3]. However, the defendants’ legal team disputes the characterization of Patel’s claims, framing his actions as those of a fraudster rather than a victim of exploitation [1].
As of July 2025, FanDuel has not issued any public response to Patel’s lawsuit [2][1].
**Summary Table**
| Aspect | Details | |---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Plaintiff | Amit Patel | | Allegations | Exploitation of gambling addiction; failure of AML/KYC practices; predatory VIP incentives | | Damages Sought | $250 million | | FanDuel Response | No public statement as of July 2025 | | Defendant’s Counterargument | Patel is a fraudster who misrepresented his lifestyle | | Court Status | Ongoing civil suit; Patel still imprisoned |
Patel, who was the sole administrator of the team's virtual credit card (VCC) system, deposited approximately $20 million of the stolen funds into his FanDuel account and an additional $1 million to DraftKings [1][3]. The former finance manager is accused of six distinct violations, each for misappropriating sums exceeding $100,000 [2].
Patel was described as a "high-volume, high-stakes DFS player" [3]. One DFS regular referred to Patel as the "biggest loser ever on FanDuel." Patel siphoned off exactly $22,221,454.40 from the VCC program by falsifying hundreds of transactions [3]. He was ordered to pay $21.1 million in restitution to the Jacksonville Jaguars [2].
Patel was moved from the Williamsburg Federal Prison Camp to the Duval County Jail ahead of a scheduled arraignment on July 30 [3]. The new charges were filed in Duval County Court this week [1]. The Jaguars are exploring the possibility of recouping the money through FanDuel [2].
This ongoing lawsuit raises questions about the responsibility of online gambling platforms in preventing and addressing gambling addiction, and the potential legal implications for companies that fail to do so.
- The ongoing lawsuit against FanDuel by Amit Patel, a former finance manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is a significant event in the realm of crime and justice, specifically gambling-trends and responsible-gambling.
- The lawsuit alleges that FanDuel exploited Patel's gambling addiction by failing to adhere to its anti-money laundering and Know Your Customer protocols, and by actively encouraging his gambling behavior.
- In the court of law, Patel is accused of embezzling over $22 million from the Jacksonville Jaguars and depositing a substantial portion of that amount into his FanDuel account, engaging in high-volume, high-stakes casino-games on the platform.
- The lawsuit seeks $250 million in damages, with Patel's legal team claiming that FanDuel's VIP host preyed on him with incentives, credits, and gifts, despite clear signs of gambling addiction.
- As of July 2025, FanDuel has not issued any public response to the lawsuit, while Patel's case remains ongoing in the court system, with the defendant's legal team disputing the characterization of Patel's claims.
- The Patel case highlights the broader issue of gambling addiction in general-news, raising questions about the responsibility of online gambling platforms in preventing and addressing gambling addiction, and the potential legal implications for companies that fail to do so.
