The Jacksonville Jaguars have reached an agreement with FanDuel, according to sources close to the deal, to compensate for the loss of nearly $20 million stolen by a former team employee.
Financial Agreement
The agreement, which was finalized in early 2025, involves FanDuel paying the Jaguars approximately $5 million. This agreement comes more than a year after Amit Patel, a mid-level financial manager for the Jaguars, pleaded guilty to stealing $22 million through a virtual credit card system used by the team.
Sources indicate that the NFL encouraged the Jaguars and FanDuel, one of the league’s official betting partners, to reach a resolution. FanDuel was willing to pay the Jaguars to maintain a good relationship with the league.
In February 2024, it was reported that the Jaguars had requested FanDuel to refund some of the money stolen by Patel. At that time, a source close to the discussions indicated that FanDuel considered the money to have been obtained legitimately.
Case Background
Patel was sentenced in March 2024 to 6 and a half years for wire fraud and illegal monetary transaction. Subsequently, he was transferred to a Duval County jail in July, when Florida state prosecutors charged him with one count of organized fraud in the first degree, which could carry a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
In July 2024, the Jaguars sued Patel in a Florida state court, seeking $66.6 million in damages.
In a recent interview, Patel admitted to having “illegally borrowed money” using the Jaguars’ company credit card to bet on games, hoping to win and return the stolen funds.
According to court documents, Patel transferred approximately $20 million to FanDuel and $1 million to DraftKings, where he was a high-stakes, high-volume daily fantasy player.
In October, Patel sued FanDuel in federal court, seeking $250 million in compensatory and punitive damages, alleging that the sportsbook “exploited” his gambling addiction and intentionally ignored its responsible gaming and anti-money laundering protocols. Patel claimed that FanDuel should have known he was a problem gambler, as he made more than 1,000 deposits at the sportsbook, each worth $25,000.
Patel was diagnosed with a gambling disorder in March 2023, a month after being fired by the Jaguars, according to a court filing.
Federal authorities disputed Patel’s claim that his behavior was driven by a gambling addiction. They stated in a court filing that, while working for the Jaguars, Patel led an extravagant lifestyle that included renting private jets, booking luxury hotels, acquiring multiple vehicles, and purchasing cryptocurrencies, a country club membership, spa treatments, and a luxury watch.
