On February 6, 2025, Lisa D’Alessandro filed a lawsuit against DraftKings and its New Jersey casino partners, claiming they contributed to her husband’s gambling addiction. The lawsuit alleges that between January 2020 and January 2024, her husband lost nearly $1 million on the platform, which she argues belonged to her and their two children.
- Lisa D’Alessandro filed a lawsuit against DraftKings.
- Her husband had a secret gambling addiction.
- Family savings were depleted by gambling losses.
- DraftKings allegedly targeted her husband with incentives.
- Lawsuit claims negligence and consumer fraud violations.
- D’Alessandro aims to raise awareness about gambling addiction.
D’Alessandro’s lawsuit highlights a troubling trend in the sports betting industry, where operators may exploit vulnerable gamblers. She claims her husband was placed in a VIP group, receiving perks and incentives that encouraged continued gambling. According to the lawsuit, his deposits increased significantly, from an average of $2,000 per month in 2020 to over $64,000 per month by 2023.
Key details from the lawsuit include:
- Her husband’s gambling activity escalated from approximately 1,600 bets per year in 2020 to over 14,000 in 2023.
- In 2022, he deposited 300% of his salary into his DraftKings account.
- By 2023, his deposits reached 440% of his annual income of about $175,000.
D’Alessandro argues that DraftKings should have recognized her husband as a problem gambler based on his betting patterns and frequency. She believes the company has a responsibility to protect families from the consequences of gambling addiction. Currently, she is focused on recovering her family’s financial stability while raising awareness about the impact of gambling addiction.
The ongoing lawsuit raises questions about the accountability of online gambling platforms in addressing addiction. D’Alessandro’s experience underscores the potential risks associated with aggressive marketing strategies that target high-spending gamblers.
