DraftKings Faces Lawsuit Over Failure To Design Sports Betting Website for Gamblers Disabilities

The sports betting website fails to provide access to the visually impaired as required by the American Disabilities Act, DraftKings class action lawsuit claims.

Owners of the sports betting platform DraftKings face a class action lawsuit filed by a visually impaired man who says the website lacks the legally required accessibility options for disabled consumers.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Anthony Benson in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on September 24, seeking class action status for all disabled individuals who attempted to access the DraftKings website, but could not.

While DraftKings is only permitted to operate in states that have legalized online sports betting, it has rapidly grown to become the dominant player in the U.S. market. The platform, known for its aggressive promotional strategies, has drawn millions of users since federal restrictions on sports gambling were lifted in 2018.

Benson’s lawsuit argues that the site is required by federal law to provide accessibility options for the disabled, including those who are blind or visually impaired, yet has failed to do so.

The class action comes at a time where DraftKings already face a growing number of gambling addiction lawsuits, alleging that the platform was designed to specifically target vulnerable users, and exploit individuals who show clear signs of compulsive behavior. The company also now faces at least one lawsuit alleging it failed to honor winning bets.

Unlike lawsuits over the company’s advertising and the legality of its online betting ventures, Benson’s complaint is focused on the ability to use the website at all.

Benson, a New York man, is permanently blind due to a condition known as bilateral enucleation. As a result, he requires screen-reading software to access websites and other digital content.

The lawsuit indicates Benson tried to access the DraftKings website in July and August of this year to participate in fantasy football gambling, only to find the site lacked accessibility options.

“Plaintiff sought to engage with these offerings but was unable to do so due to persistent access barriers that render the website incompatible with standard screen-reading software. As a blind individual, Plaintiff was denied full and equal access to the platform and remains deterred from returning, despite his intent to participate in upcoming NFL fantasy contests and wagering promotions.”

— Anthony Benson v. DraftKings Inc.

Benson’s complaint argues that DraftKings is a publicly traded online service and is required to provide accessibility options for the blind through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He alleges that the deficiencies violate Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, depriving visually impaired individuals “the benefits of its online goods, content, and services—benefits it freely affords to nondisabled individuals.”

Benson presents claims of ADA violations, violations of the New York City Human Rights Law and New York State Civil Rights law and seeks declaratory relief for himself and all legally blind individuals in the U.S. who have attempted to access the site.

DraftKings Sports Betting Lawsuits

The lawsuit comes as the online gambling industry in the U.S. faces an increasing number of sports betting lawsuits alleging that companies like DraftKings and FanDuel have prioritized profits over consumer protection, using real-time data to identify and retain users who have shown signs of compulsive behavior.

Sports betting addiction lawsuits are currently being reviewed by lawyers nationwide for individuals between the ages of 18 and 25, who developed gambling addictions and lost $10,000 or more after using sports betting apps like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars. 

These claims focus on college age users who were encouraged to place high-frequency bets, even after showing signs of addiction. Some continued to receive personalized incentives, and marketing offers after requesting account closures or appearing on self-exclusion lists, raising serious concerns about how platforms exploit vulnerable behavior.

If you or someone you love suffered financial harm from compulsive gambling on these apps, contact a sports betting lawyer to see if you are eligible to recover losses and hold companies accountable for their addictive design and predatory targeting practices.