Husband's DraftKings Gaming Leads to Million-Dollar Family Savings Lawsuit Settlement in New Jersey
A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit filed by Lisa D'Alessandro against DraftKings, following allegations that the sportsbook nurtured her ex-husband's costly gambling addiction, leading to the loss of significant family savings.
According to court documents, D'Alessandro's ex-husband allegedly spent approximately $1 million of the family's savings on gambling with DraftKings. He reportedly emptied credit cards and savings accounts of his two children as well.
The lawsuit, filed in December 2023, accused DraftKings of providing VIP incentives and failing to intervene despite signs of problem gambling. D'Alessandro sought recovery of the entire $942,232.32 allegedly stolen by her husband for gambling, but no official figure from the settlement has been released.
The Essex County Superior Court Judge dismissed the case with prejudice due to a mutual settlement agreement between DraftKings and D'Alessandro. This means that the case cannot be refiled. The settlement amount or details were not specified in the provided information.
D'Alessandro filed for divorce the day after her husband confessed to losing money gambling. The gambling activities of the ex-husband via DraftKings occurred between 2020 and January 2024, and it is reported that he gambled almost $15 million during this period.
However, the real name of the ex-husband has not been disclosed in the settlement. With the case now closed, D'Alessandro and her two children will gain a degree of closure after the case dismissal.
Sources: 1. NJ.com 2. CBS News 3. The New York Times 4. The Wall Street Journal
In the settlement, DraftKings was not found liable for the ex-husband's gambling addiction, yet the lawsuit highlighted concerns about sports betting, casino games, lotteries, and casino-and-gambling practices within the company. It's crucial for platforms like DraftKings to implement responsible gambling measures to prevent such big-wins from causing significant financial losses for individuals. Moving forward, it's essential to prioritize the protection of families against gambling-related distress.
