Sports betting lawyers are filing lawsuits for people who were harmed by DraftKings, FanDuel, and other mobile apps that have fueled a new generation of gambling addiction, bankruptcy and debt.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Sports Betting cases for injuries, gambling addiction, and financial losses in all 50 states. If you or a loved one lost $10,000 or more on FanDuel or DraftKings or became addicted to sports betting online, you should contact our sports betting lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Online Gambling Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Are You Addicted to Online Sports Betting?
How Can a Lawyer Help?
Our sports betting lawyers may be able to help you file a lawsuit if you (or your loved one) meet the following criteria:
- You were between 18 and 30 years old when betting
- You used any major sports betting app (FanDuel, DraftKings, etc.)
- You lost at least $10,000 due to compulsive betting
- You experienced or witnessed suicidal behavior, emotional breakdown, family conflict, or the death of a loved one due to financial losses
Top Online Sports Betting Platforms & Apps
DraftKings and FanDuel have over 70% of the market for online sports betting, but there are other platforms, mobile apps, and physical locations for betting on sports (called “sportsbooks”). The top online sports betting platforms include:
- FanDuel
- DraftKings
- BetMGM Sportbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- ESPN Bet
- bet365
- Fanatics
- BetRivers
- Hard Rock Bet
- And more
Problem Gambling Surges After Sports Betting Legalized
Studies showed an alarming surge in gambling addiction after the landmark Supreme Court decision Murphy v. NCAA (2018), which paved the way for states to legalize sports betting. Over the next 7 years, dozens of states passed laws legalizing sports betting, allowing for the rapid growth of online apps for mobile sports betting and “live betting” on games.
The Explosive Growth of Sports Betting
By late 2025, sports betting was legal in 38 states, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico. Total sports wagers skyrocketed from $4.9 billion in 2017 to $121.1 billion in 2023, with online wagers making up 94% of the bets in 2023.
These platforms are relentlessly targeting young people who are enthusiastic about sports, without warning users about the risk of gambling addiction, massive financial losses, and apps designed with few (if any) safeguards.
What is Sports Betting?
Sports betting has been around for centuries, combining the everlasting popularity of sporting events and gambling.
But in recent years, America has seen the fastest expansion of legalized gambling ever in U.S. history. This is due to the surging popularity of mobile apps like FanDuel and DraftKings, which gave millions of people the ability to bet on sports at home, on their phone, at almost any time, on hundreds of outcomes, in dozens of states where it is now legal.
How Does It Work?
People can bet money on outcomes like who will win, final scores, scores at certain times during the game, long-term wagers on future events (such as who will win the Super Bowl or be named MVP), and many other events. These bets have technical names like:
- Moneyline bets (favorites/underdogs)
- Prop bets (or “proposition bet”) — performance-based bets
- Futures
- Point spread
- Parlay
- Teasers
- Live betting
- In-play betting
- And more
Live Sports Betting
Mobile sports betting apps offer “live” betting during the game for people who are watching a sporting event and betting on it at the same time. Live betting is very exciting. It shortens the time between bet and reward, increasing the speed and frequency of each bet — along with the risk of big losses.
Live betting may also be addictive. It features rapid wagers on hundreds of outcomes during the game, with a boost of dopamine for every win. Any aspect of the game or player’s performance is now a potential bet. The odds update in real-time during a live game or event, sometimes with the option to “cash-out” and lock in profits or cut losses before the game ends.
Youth Are At Higher Risk
Live betting has proven to be an especially addictive, popular, and profitable feature for mobile sports betting platforms. It has helped FanDuel and DraftKings onboard millions of young users in recent years. But along with the explosive growth of these apps, experts are also seeing a new epidemic of 18 to 30 year-olds with gambling problems and severe financial losses.
Why Is It So Addictive?
People love sports, and unlike most other types of gambling, people who bet on sports are usually deeply familiar with the game, players, and rules. They already have a built-in reward system surrounding the sport and players. This helps fuel the “illusion of control” — the belief that they have an advantage over everyone else due to extensive research or knowledge.
Sports Betting and Online Gambling: A Dangerous Mix
Watching sports is something that millions of people use to relax. It is a useful distraction from day-to-day stress. It can also become a habit or an obsession. For some people, adding gambling is a dangerous mix.
People who enjoy sports love seeing their team win. This triggers a release of dopamine in the brain, resulting in a feeling of pleasure. It reinforces a reward-system and cravings to watch more of the sport. Betting money only adds to the adrenaline rush. Like pouring fuel on a fire, people who obsess over sports are especially vulnerable to developing a sports betting habit.
Signs & Symptoms of Sports Betting Addiction
Addiction and compulsive behaviors vary widely, ranging from mild “problem gambling” to a dangerous compulsive obsession in which a person will continue betting on the outcome of sports, regardless of the consequences.
Not everyone who is addicted to gambling shows symptoms that would be obvious to someone else. They may be very good at hiding their habit, even to close family, but here a few examples of warning signs you might see:
- Betting to relieve stress and escape problems. They may feel like something is missing if they don’t wager money on a game, or experience anxiety and irritability if they are not able to bet on sports.
- Continuing to bet on sports, despite consequences like losing large amounts of money or suffering conflict with family and loved ones.
- Obsessively thinking about sports betting, and planning ahead on the next opportunity to bet on sports.
- Trying to control, cut down, or stop betting, without success.
- They may be able to stop or cut down on their betting for short periods of time, giving themselves and loved ones the illusion of control, only to relapse again and again.
- Worsening mental health problems like depression, anger, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, etc.
- New behaviors like shoplifting, fraud, or theft, secretive behavior, etc.
- Going into debt.
- Asking others for financial help, lying to cover up their problem, or resorting to theft and fraud.
- Missing out on work opportunities or education due to the large amount of energy, time, and money spent betting on sports.
- Becoming emotionally distant or losing touch with family, friends, and colleagues.
- Bankruptcy
- And more
Mobile Apps Make It Easy To Hide Gambling Problems
Like drug addiction or alcoholism, people who are addicted to gambling on sports often try to hide their habit or keep it a secret from loved ones.
They may suffer from significant financial losses, depression, shame, guilt, suicidal thoughts, and other consequences — but instead of quitting when bad things happen, they try to hide their habit from anyone who might try to intervene. The use of mobile apps like FanDuel or DraftKings make it especially easy to hide a serious gambling problem from loved ones, until the financial consequences are too big to hide, or the person becomes suicidal.
What Should I Do?
If you or a loved one is in crisis, please call 911.
If these symptoms describe you or a loved one, 1-800-522-4700 is the phone number for the National Problem Gambling Helpline™. It serves as a resource for individuals who may be struggling with problem gambling or gambling addiction, or their loved ones.
Legal Issues for Sports Betting Lawyers to Consider
Lawyers will consider many liability issues and legal claims against sports betting platforms. Every case is unique, but examples include:
- Negligence: Failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of users. Examples might include apps designed to be addictive, lack of safeguards against addiction, failing to set betting limits, failing to restrict credit cards, monitor high-risk users, or verify age.
- Fraud: Using misleading or deceptive promotions, advertising “free bets” and “guaranteed wins,” bonuses like cash-back or enhanced odds, incentives for choosing higher-risk bets, or financial rewards for making bets.
- Defective Design: Intentionally designing apps to lure users in and make gambling as exciting and addictive as possible (i.e, fast-paced betting, repeated wagers on live events, or small rewards to encourage higher-risk betting).
- Violating Consumer Protection Laws: Targeting young people under the age of 30 who are vulnerable to developing compulsive gambling habits.
Do You Need a Sports Betting Lawyer?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Sports Betting cases in all 50 states. If you or a loved one had a gambling addiction to FanDuel or DraftKings and lost $10,000 or more, you should contact our sports betting lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Gambling Addiction Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
