Why FanDuel Agreed to Pay the Jacksonville Jaguars $5 Million After Illegal Bets Went Awry

More than a year after a Jacksonville Jaguars finance manager was fired for stealing $22 million to make illegal sports bets on FanDuel, the NFL franchise and the popular sportsbook have come to a multi-million dollar resolution.

As first reported by ESPN, FanDuel has agreed to fork over $5 million to the Jaguars to cover some of the money Amit Patel stole while working as a mid-level finance manager with the team. The report states Patel, who was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison in March 2024 following his conviction on wire fraud charges, stole $22 million from the team via a virtual credit card system used for expenses.

It's reported that Patel used $20 million to make bets with FanDuel, and an additional $1 million with DraftKings. Patel also used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle, which included chartering private jets, booking luxury hotels, buying multiple vehicles, and acquiring a country club membership, among other things.

According to ESPN, it was the NFL that encouraged both sides to strike a deal. FanDuel is one of the NFL's official betting partners. A source told the outlet that FanDuel was also motivated to pay the Jaguars "in the interest of being a good partner with the league."

A court filing shows, via ESPN, that Patel was fired in February 2023 by the Jaguars. One month later, Patel was diagnosed with a gambling disorder. He went on to sue FanDuel for $250 million, claiming the sportsbook "exploited" his gambling addiction.

Patel recently told CNN that he "illegally borrow[ed] money by using the Jaguars company credit card" to make big bets, with the hopes of winning big and paying back the stolen money.