If you’re new to the world of fantasy football, then you’ve probably heard about the recent DraftKings/FanDueL Lawsuit. However, you may not know who’s behind this lawsuit. Here’s some background information:
DraftKings
A class action lawsuit has been filed against DraftKings and FanDuel, which allegedly defrauded millions of players. The lawsuit alleges that both companies and their employees had privileged information, which gave them a distinct advantage over players. Employees of DraftKings and FanDuel were able to access information about “undervalued” athletes, as well as information about the lineups of competitors, thereby enabling them to win a large percentage of their wagers and collect 90% of their winnings.
The lawsuit aims to limit the number of players in a single DFS account and ban employees from participating in public contests. The companies also added rank symbols to the user names of experienced bettors. DraftKings and FanDuel are obligated to settle part of the lawsuit but have not yet decided whether they will do so. It is unclear how much of the lawsuit is likely to be successful, but the companies have taken significant steps to address these concerns.
FanDuel
The FTC authorized a lawsuit against the DraftKings and FanDuel merger. The merger would give the combined firm a monopoly on 90 percent of the U.S. paid daily fantasy sports market. The FTC filed a complaint against the two companies, seeking a preliminary injunction to block the deal and restore the status quo pending an administrative trial. However, the lawsuit did not proceed to trial.
According to the lawsuit, the companies facilitated a privileged environment wherein employees of the companies gained an unfair advantage over ordinary fans. The employees were given access to privileged information, including the team lineups chosen by their competitors and information about undervalued athletes. As a result, these employees made up the majority of the winners in the contests and scooped up the lion’s share of the prize money.
Fox Sports
The pending DraftKings/FanDueL lawsuit against Fox Sports has many implications. It’s unclear whether the arbitration case will affect the company’s stock market debut. A final ruling may take two to three months, but the company may be back in business in time for the 2022-23 NFL season. Meanwhile, the ongoing investigation could spook early investors and damage the company’s brand value.
The suit is based on patent infringement and claims that DraftKings and FanDuel violated the law by implementing unfair business practices. The two companies have entered into partnerships with the Dallas Cowboys and Fox Sports, and have consented to federal court jurisdiction in Texas in the past. The lawsuit also claims that DraftKings offers infringing products in Texas.
New York state
A new law in New York state may require both DraftKings and FanDuel to compensate their customers for losses. The lawsuit was filed after the companies failed to disclose to their players that the contests are addictive and can lead to compulsive behavior. The law will require them to disclose their payouts and winnings to players before they play. The companies should also provide resources for gamers with gambling disorders and provide information about the success rate of their contests.
The bill also requires players to be at least eighteen years old and pay 15% of their gross revenues. In addition, the legislation requires operators to pay a licensing fee of $50000 that is deductible from their taxable revenue. While some believe that these licensing fees are too high, other industry participants worry that the legislation will prevent innovation and smaller DFS companies from opening in the state.
Class-action suit
A DraftKings/FanDues class-action suit alleges that the company’s employees misled customers in promoting their online fantasy sports products. A New York Times report revealed that a DraftKings employee won a prize on FanDuel, setting off a series of accusations about unfair marketing. Now, a judge in Massachusetts has preliminarily approved the settlement, which the company will have to defend against.
The DraftKings/FanDue consolidated consumer class-action suit was filed in February 2016 in New York and Massachusetts and was dismissed by a federal judge in June. The companies have not yet responded to the lawsuit, but they will likely file motions to dismiss and attempt to force arbitration. But if you’ve lost money in fantasy sports, you should contact a lawyer today to discuss your rights.
Settlement fund
In a court order, DraftKings agreed to settle a class action lawsuit over its DFS games by paying eight million dollars to players. The settlement, however, will not be in cash but will be paid out in “DK Dollars,” the equivalent of credits on the DraftKings site. While DraftKings is headquartered in Boston, many of its players are located in other locations.
The DraftKings/FanDuel lawsuit settlement fund will be split between two groups. The open account fund will get $7.28 million, while the closed account fund will receive $720,000. The open account fund will be given to players who made their first deposits before January 1, 2018. The closed account fund will pay out to those who had already closed their accounts. The players who closed their accounts will be eligible for the remaining seventy percent.