Attorney files 15 lawsuits alleging sports betting apps are engineered to addict users

Attorney Jennifer Hoekstra filed a series of 15 lawsuits against the two largest U.S. sports betting apps, FanDuel and DraftKings, asserting that their design intentionally creates addiction. The suits follow a legal theory previously used in a California case against social-media firms, focusing on the apps' push notifications, bonus alerts, and data-driven targeting of vulnerable users. Industry figures note that online sports betting surged to $167 billion in wagers last year, and research from UCLA and the National Council on Problem Gambling links online gambling legalization to a 25 % rise in bankruptcies and to millions showing problem-gambling behavior.

FanDuel claims to have invested $158 million in responsible-gaming measures and removed thousands of high-risk accounts, yet a former employee says staff often chose to keep bettors engaged. VIP programs that reward big spenders with exclusive events and personalized managers are highlighted as a tactic that deepens financial loss for users like Esteban Ruiz-Haynes and Louis Ruggiero, who describe the experience as predatory retention.