FanDuel is now the latest company facing a class action in California over daily fantasy sports, expanding a run of similar lawsuits filed earlier this year. The Almeida Group, working with three additional firms, submitted the complaint on behalf of state resident Gilbert Criswell. He alleges that FanDuel has facilitated illegal sports betting since 2015 and argues that the company misled him about the legality of its contests.
Criswell claims he created a FanDuel account because he believed the platform operated legally in California. According to the filing, this belief rested on the company’s assurances. He states that he “did finally learn the true unlawful nature of the gambling websites’ operations,” and he decided to pursue legal action after discovering what he describes as the true nature of the services he used.
The lawsuit also references a July opinion from Attorney General Rob Bonta, which states that California officials view all forms of daily fantasy sports as illegal. The complaint argues that FanDuel promotes its fantasy offerings as lawful despite the state’s position and claims the company’s representations affect both the enforceability of its arbitration clause and the timeline for assessing the statute of limitations.
Lawsuits Against DraftKings and PrizePicks Shape the Landscape
The new case mirrors two earlier actions filed against DraftKings and PrizePicks, which allege that both companies’ fantasy contests qualify as illegal gambling under California law. Those suits were submitted shortly before the attorney general’s opinion was released but raise similar issues regarding the nature of the products offered.
DraftKings responded with a motion to dismiss that contends the attorney general’s stance does not alter existing statute. In its filing, the company wrote: “While DraftKings’ DFS contests are legal, and there is no authority to the contrary, the Court need not reach that issue because of the many threshold issues – standing, the public polidoctrine, lack of jurisdiction, and statute of limitations – that make clear Plaintiffs’ claims all fail out of the gate.”
PrizePicks has also pursued dismissal, relying on many of the same procedural arguments. Although the two motions differ in presentation, both underline issues such as jurisdiction and timing while noting that California courts traditionally avoid ruling on disputes tied to gambling activities. These earlier filings outline some of the arguments FanDuel is likely to raise as its own case progresses.
Broader Legal Activity Highlights an Unsettled Climate
The complaint against FanDuel company is part of a wider set of challenges involving companies that operate in or adjacent to gaming markets. The Almeida Group has also filed a separate lawsuit in the Southern District of New York claiming that Kalshi’s sports-related event contracts constitute illegal gambling. The firm’s multiple filings show how questions surrounding fantasy sports, event-based markets, and related products continue to draw legal attention in different jurisdictions.
For FanDuel, the new case adds to ongoing debate about whether daily fantasy sports fit within California’s legal boundaries. Criswell asserts that FanDuel’s explanations of its compliance influenced his participation, and his complaint raises questions about how companies present the status of their offerings in states where regulatory positions remain contested.
Source:
“FanDuel latest defendant in California DFS class action spree”, sbcamericas.com. Dec 10, 2025
The post FanDuel Faces New Allegations Over DFS Legality in California first appeared on RealMoneyAction.com.