Sources: FanDuel to pay Jags over stolen funds

FanDuel has agreed to wage the Jaguars astir $5 cardinal to compensate for the astir $20 cardinal that a erstwhile Jacksonville worker stole from the squad and past mislaid astatine the sportsbook, sources acquainted with the statement told ESPN.

The sources said the woody was finalized successful aboriginal 2025, much than a twelvemonth aft Amit Patel, a midlevel concern manager for the Jaguars, pleaded guilty to stealing $22 cardinal done a virtual recognition paper strategy the squad utilized for expenses.

Sources told ESPN that the NFL encouraged the Jaguars and FanDuel, 1 of the league's authoritative betting partners, to travel to a solution but did not actively enactment successful the discussions. A root with nonstop cognition of the statement said FanDuel was motivated to wage the Jaguars successful the involvement of being a bully spouse with the league.

The Jaguars and NFL declined to comment. FanDuel did not instantly respond to requests for comment.

ESPN archetypal reported successful February 2024 that the Jaguars had asked FanDuel to repay immoderate of the wealth stolen by Patel. At the time, a root acquainted with the discussions betwixt the 2 sides said, "The mode [FanDuel] see[s] it ... we got this wealth just and clear. It's not our occupation that we person to forfeit it backmost to you."

Patel was sentenced successful March 2024 to 6½ years for ligament fraud and amerciable monetary transaction and was incarcerated astatine a minimum-security national situation successful Alabama. He was moved to a Duval County jailhouse successful July erstwhile Florida authorities prosecutors charged him with 1 count of organized fraud successful the archetypal degree. In Florida, that complaint is punishable by up to 30 years successful prison.

In July 2024, the Jaguars sued Patel successful Florida authorities court, asking for $66.6 cardinal successful damages. Florida allows for treble damages successful civilian cases.

In a caller interrogation with CNN, Patel said helium "illegally borrow[ed] wealth by utilizing the Jaguars institution recognition card" to stake connected games, hoping to triumph and past repay the stolen funds. According to tribunal documents, Patel transferred astir $20 cardinal to FanDuel and $1 cardinal to DraftKings, wherever helium was a high-stakes and high-volume daily phantasy player.

In October, Patel sued FanDuel successful national court, asking for $250 cardinal successful compensatory and punitive damages, claiming the sportsbook "exploited" his gambling addiction and intentionally ignored its liable gaming and anti-money laundering protocols. Patel said successful tribunal documents that FanDuel should person known helium was a occupation gambler and that helium made implicit 1,000 deposits with the sportsbook, each successful the magnitude of $25,000.

Patel was diagnosed with a gambling disorder successful March 2023, a period aft helium was fired by the Jaguars, according to a tribunal filing.

Federal aut...