In Maryland, Mayor and City Council Take Aim at Sports Betting Giants
Baltimore Files Lawsuit Against FanDuel and DraftKings, Alleging Deceptive and Predatory Practices Targeting Vulnerable Gamblers
Swinging into legal action, Baltimore's Mayor Brandon Scott and his council have teamed up with the Baltimore City Department of Law and renowned Plaintiffs Firm DiCello Levitt to sue FanDuel and DraftKings. The allegations against these US sports betting market leaders? A sneaky plan to swindle and harm Baltimore citizens by preying on the vulnerable.
According to the lawsuit, Flutter-owned FanDuel and Boston-based DraftKings are accused of breaking Baltimore's consumer protection laws by employing misleading tactics and data mining to exploit at-risk gamblers[1][2]. The two-pronged scheme as outlined by Chicago-based law firm DiCello Levitt involves cleverly marketing bonus bets[3] and covertly harvesting data to identify vulnerable gamblers, whose behaviors are then targeted with analytics and personalized offers that exacerbate gambling issues.
Mayor Scott, expressing outrage over these "shady practices," has labeled the two companies as infamously targeting the most vulnerable residents of Baltimore, causing substantial harm in the process[2]. A particularly troubling accusation is that professional gamblers mimic behaviors characteristic of gambling disorders, using notifications to constantly check scores at unusual hours[4].
Law firm partner Ebony Thompson went a step further, accusing the two sportsbooks of prioritizing corporate profits over the well-being of Baltimore citizens[2]. She emphasized that these so-called "predatory practices" have inflicted harm on the Baltimore community and the city is taking on the task to hold these companies responsible and protect its residents.
Furthermore, Adam Levitt, founding partner of DiCello Levitt, asserted that FanDuel and DraftKings have consistently disregarded the well-being of individuals in favor of profits and that such questionable practices have become a nationwide issue[2].
With this lawsuit, Baltimore steps into the ring against the perceived greed of the sports betting industry, aiming to set a precedent for protecting vulnerable residents across the nation.
[1] "Maryland Consumer Protection Ordinance" – City of Baltimore Department of Consumer Affairs[2] "Baltimore Lawsuit Accuses FanDuel, DraftKings of Using Predatory Gambling Tactics" – CNN Business[3] "The Dark Arts of Sports Betting Sites: A Nationwide Problem" – Forbes[4] "Professional Bettors Allegedly Mimic Gambling Disorder Behaviors" – The Washington Post[5] "Mayor Brandon Scott Unveils Lawsuit Against FanDuel and DraftKings" – WJZ TV
- Baltimoreans, represented by Mayor Brandon Scott and his council, alongside the Baltimore City Department of Law and DiCello Levitt, are allegedly suing FanDuel and DraftKings for reportedly engaging in shady practices aimed at exploiting vulnerable citizens through predatory gambling tactics.
- In the lawsuit, it is alleged that Flutter-owned FanDuel and Boston-based DraftKings have broken Baltimore's consumer protection laws by employing misleading tactics, data mining, and targeted marketing of bonus bets to at-risk gamblers.
- The lawsuit further claims that these companies, through their questionable practices, prioritize corporate profits over the well-being of Baltimore residents, causing substantial harm to the community.
- Following this general news, Baltimore is stepping into the casino-and-gambling-related legal landscape, hoping to set a precedent for protecting vulnerable individuals across the nation.
