When your fantasy team’s stacked but your bank account’s in the red, there’s a thin line between thrill and disaster. Just ask former Jags’ financial manager Amit Patel, who went from the boardroom to the courtroom in a matter of a few days.

ESPN writer David Payne Purdum dropped the news on X: Patel, who pleaded guilty to $22M in theft from the Jaguars through their virtual credit card program is now hitting FanDuel with a $250M lawsuit. “Ex-Jacksonville Jaguars’ employee who stole $22 million from team sues FanDuel for $250 million,” Purdum’s tweet read. Talk about an unexpected play!

Patel filed a $250 mil. lawsuit against FanDuel, holding them fully responsible for his gambling addiction. He claims the platform showered him with temptations ($1.1M in credits, the Masters, the Miami Grand Prix) and not penalties.  

Per the court docs filed in NYC, the ex-exec’s lawyer, Matthew Litt, argues that FanDuel fueled his client’s gambling habits. “They actively and intentionally targeted and preyed on him with incentives, credits, and gifts,” Litt said. 

Patel’s VIP host Krause reportedly tracked him, calling him 100 times a day. Krause even shifted conversation to personal emails and calls to keep things more hush-hush. 

While FanDuel hasn’t reverted yet, Litt pointed out that these platforms must stop luring in more addicted gamblers with lucrative offers. “Amit is facing 100% of the consequences while FanDuel is facing none.”

Amit Patel was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison after prosecutors laid out a damning case against him.

From Jaguars’ Exec to Federal prison

He swindled the Jags for nearly four years, using insider info to pull off hundreds of fraudulent transactions. In court, Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr. handed down the sentence, remarking that the ex-financial manager would never be able to repay the $21.1M he owes—a reality the judge confirmed after he only returned $1.89M of the stolen funds.

Patel showed no emotion during the proceedings, but it was clear this wasn’t just a financial failure—it was a personal unraveling. In a gut-wrenching moment, he admitted to battling alcohol and gambling addiction for 14 years, confessing, “It began small and then snowballed so big that my only thought was to gamble my way out of it.” 

The former exec’s betting habits went way out of control. His attorney revealed that he lost about $32M to gambling—99% of the money he misappropriated. His luxe-lifestyle, buying new cars, a condo, and even memorabilia from golfing legend Tiger Woods just goes to show how deep his dive was into gambling. 

The 31-year-old’s lawyer, though, pushed for a lighter sentence, suggesting 60 months would suffice, but prosecutors weren’t having it. Assistant U.S. attorney Michael J. Coolican made it clear: “If he can steal $22 million and get probation, he’s going to do it again.” Ouch! 

The Jags? They’re ready to move on, implementing stricter checks and balances to avoid future fraudulence. The team’s chief legal officer, Megha Parekh, read a victim-impact statement: “Amit broke our hearts.” 

But here’s the kicker: Amit Patel’s now turning the tables, suing FanDuel. As this legal battle heats up, serious questions about the ethics of online gambling come to light. Keep your eyes peeled—this drama’s just getting started!