Jacksonville Jaguars to receive $5 million from FanDuel in former employee gambling scandal | NFL News
Amit Patel, former finance manager for the Jacksonville Jaguars, stole about $22 million from the team between 2019 and 2023 by using the Jaguars’ virtual credit card system. He used much of that money to gamble on FanDuel (around $20 million) and a bit on DraftKings. Because of that theft, FanDuel has agreed to pay the Jaguars about $5 million to help cover part of the loss.
Amit Patel, FanDuel and the $5 million deal
Amit Patel pleaded guilty in late 2023 to federal crimes: wire fraud and illegal monetary transactions. In March 2024, Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr. sentenced him to 6½ years in prison. He was also ordered to pay about $21.1 million back to the Jaguars. FanDuel, an official partner of the NFL, agreed in early 2025 to pay roughly $5 million to the Jaguars. The money is meant to offset part of the amount Patel stole and lost through gambling. Although the NFL encouraged the resolution, the league did not directly take part in those talks.
Also Read:
Amit Patel theft case details and fallout for the Jacksonville Jaguars
While working for the Jaguars, Amit Patel oversaw the team’s virtual credit card program and processed team expenses. Between September 2019 and February 2023, he made false expense claims (inflating costs, duplicating, or fabricating them) to divert funds. He then transferred millions to gambling accounts at FanDuel and DraftKings; nearly all was lost. In July 2024, the Jaguars sued Amit Patel, seeking around $66.6 million in damages. Patel also filed a lawsuit against FanDuel in October 2024, asking for $250 million, claiming the company exploited his gambling addiction and ignored rules meant to prevent money laundering. FanDuel’s payment does not cover the entire stolen sum but represents a partial settlement to avoid a longer legal fight and to maintain good standing with the NFL.
