Tulsa Attorneys File Suit Against Fantasy Sports Websites

A Tulsa law firm hopes to lead a court battle against two websites that deal in fantasy sports. They filed suit last week, arguing the websites victimize players who have almost no chance of winning.

While some fantasy leagues pay off only in pride, some deal in actual cash.

Whether or not that's gambling is a legal issue, along with the question of whether people have a fair chance of winning.

The two sites offer the same kind of experience - DraftKings and FanDuel pit individuals against each other in fantasy sports with the chance to win actual cash.

The advertising shows $50,000 prizes with a $5 entry.

But now, lawsuits are being filed, claiming it's all but impossible for an average person to win the big prizes.

Attorney John Thetford said, "It's a data-driven outcome and the people with the most data are going to be the people with the best chance of winning."

Tulsa attorneys Thetford and Terry Brennan filed suit against the websites claiming insiders are the real winners.

"The employees, within this case DraftKings, had access to inside information, non-public information, and use that on other websites,” Brennan said.

The lawsuit against DraftKings and FanDuel, filed last week, is a potential class action alleging false and misleading advertising, fraud and misrepresentation, deceit, breach of contract, and, conspiracy.

Read The Suit Here

The claims are common to dozens of other lawsuits being filed around the country.

“Based on our research they have violated specific Oklahoma laws and they should be accountable in Oklahoma for their actions. So, absolutely, we think they should come to Oklahoma and face the music for their conduct," Thetford said.

He and Brennan believe their lawsuit will be the class action suit for Oklahoma, and Oklahomans will eventually be due a refund for what they lost to the websites.

"The scenario they got involved with was misrepresented to them, and so they should be restored to where they were before they got involved," Brennan said.

In response to some of the many other lawsuits filed in the last week, the websites have denied the accusations, said they're changing some policies and hired lawyers to defend the wave of legal claims coming at them.