• Loading stock data...
Monday, May 5, 2025

MLBPA Sues FanDuel, DraftKings Over Use of Player Images

  • The players’ union seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
  • This follows a recent lawsuit from the NFL Players Association against DraftKings.
Credit: USA Today

The Major League Baseball Players Association is taking a swing at the two biggest betting companies—in court. 

The MLBPA filed a lawsuit against DraftKings and Bet365 Group in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia on Monday. It filed a separate lawsuit against FanDuel and Underdog Fantasy in New York State court. The news was first reported by Law360.

The players’ union argues the betting sites are using their images without permission, and the union seeks compensation and punitive damages. 

According to the complaint against DraftKings, “defendants’ use of player images within their sportsbook platforms is not merely informational—it is promotional.”

Moreover, according to the union’s lawyers, the violations are specific to the sites’ baseball offerings: “Both DraftKings and Bet365 offer the same types of bets in other sports without using player images.”

Those other sports include football. 

Just last month, the NFL Players Association filed a $65 million lawsuit against DraftKings, the league’s official betting partner, for breach of contract. As with the MLBPA lawsuits, that suit also relates to NIL (name, image, and likeness). However, the similarities mostly end there, as the NFL case centers on DraftKings’ now defunct NFT marketplace, which closed in July while facing a separate class-action lawsuit arguing the cryptocurrency tokens it sold are unregistered securities.

FanDuel and DraftKings are the two largest sites in the space, combining for two-thirds of online gaming revenue in the U.S. DraftKings has a $18.5 billion market cap, while FanDuel’s parent company, Flutter Entertainment, is worth just shy of $40 billion. Underdog Fantasy is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) app that launched in 2020 and in July announced a YouTube show with Bill Belichick.

DraftKings and Bet365 have yet to respond to requests for comment. FanDuel and Underdog Fantasy declined to comment.

The MLBPA has been litigious this summer in enforcing what it sees as its players’ NIL rights: The union also sued the Pirates and jersey patch sponsor Sheetz last month.  

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

2027 NFL Draft in Washington, D.C., Expected to Draw 1 Million Fans

President Donald Trump announced the move on Monday afternoon.
Mar 30, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Birmingham Stallions quarterback Alex McGough (10) runs the ball as DC Defenders cornerback Kiondre Thomas (24) defends in the second half at Audi Field.

UFL, Union Sign New CBA, Which Runs Through 2026 Season

The new agreement raises minimum salaries by more than $7,000.

Featured Today

Athlos

Nike Wants to Pull Off the First Women’s Sub-4:00 Mile

Experts speak on whether Nike’s “moonshot” is realistic or a gimmick.
Apr 12, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; MLB umpire Ron Kulpa (46) calls a third strike during a game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field
May 4, 2025

Pro Refs Get Offered Free Lasik for Better Calls. Some Took It

Some pro officials have sprung for the offer for free corrective surgery.
Mint juelps
May 3, 2025

Inside the 120,000-Cup Mint Julep Frenzy of Kentucky Derby Weekend

The official cocktail at Churchill Downs costs $22—or $5,000.
May 1, 2025

How Larry Collmus Became the Longest-Running Kentucky Derby Caller

Collmus will call his 15th straight Derby on NBC.
United States District Court, District of New Jersey. Federal Courthouse in Newark. on Thursday Feb. 11, 2021. Newark Federal Courthouse

Kalshi Gains More Legal Momentum With Early New Jersey Win

Kalshi has begun racking up early legal victories as it defends its sports event contracts.
The sun rises behind the New York skyline seen from the Jersey City waterfront on Thursday morning Dec. 10, 2020.
April 22, 2025

N.Y. Sports Betting Faces Major Limits Under New Proposal

Newly proposed legislation would impose daily betting caps and limit advertising.
Apr 22, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots the ball over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) during the third quarter of game two of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
April 23, 2025

Kalshi’s Offensive Blitz Continues With Suit Against Maryland

Kalshi previously sued regulators in Nevada and New Jersey.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Portfolio Players is our bi-weekly spotlight on the athletes and investors reshaping the business of sports. This week, venture capitalist Kai Cunningham unpacks why athletes land top deals and how the usual investing rules don’t always apply.
April 16, 2025

Sports Prediction Markets Still Face Legal Roadblocks

The Wire Act and tribal sovereignty could be the next legal battlegrounds.
April 14, 2025

Bank Says Sports Betting Could Weather Tariff Storm

Lower tax revenues could encourage more states to legalize sports betting.
Sports gambling reached an all-time high in 2022.
April 9, 2025

Kalshi Gears Up for Legal Fight With States

Maryland followed at least five other states that have sent cease-and-desist letters.
Potawatomi Sports Book patrons the University of Wisconsin men play UCLA on Friday, March 14, 2025. The venue is open for the first time during March Madness and is expecting to be busy over the next few weeks in Milwaukee.
April 8, 2025

Kalshi Notches Legal Win in Fight With Nevada

Kalshi can keep offering its sports event contracts in Nevada—for now.