DraftKings has a major lawsuit hanging over its head.
Nicholas Bavas is taking the sports betting company to court after he says the company owes him millions of dollars in winnings that he hopes to receive.
The Iowa gambler thought he had discovered an all-but-guaranteed way to win over $14 million by wagering just over $300, taking advantage of an apparent loophole the online sportsbook seemingly missed.
Unfortunately, Bavas contends in a 39-page breach of contract lawsuit obtained by The Independent that the NASDAQ-listed firm invoked one of an array of iron-clad platform rules and “unilaterally” voided his bets and refunded his money rather than giving him the life-changing money.
Bavas, a resident of Dallas County, claims the defendants unfairly voided the bets he placed on the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament as rain threatened to cut short play after 54 holes.
He said he was well aware there was a good chance of the final round being canceled, and with DraftKings still accepting bets on the tournament’s outcome, bettors around the country, Bavas included, put their money on competitors.
The lawsuit alleges the company applies a “dizzying array of interlocking sets of rules that may or may not govern each bet depending on the type of wager placed, the specific event, and the particular sport … However, when DraftKings makes an error or accepts a bet it should not have, or when unforeseen events occur that require an unanticipated large payout by DraftKings, then it seems different rules apply.”
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Bavas placed five bets on the outcome of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament in the late hours of February 3.
Bavas allegedly placed a $100 bet shortly after 10 pm, which DraftKings accepted. The bet was a “20 Picks” parlay. Bavas selected the leading competitor, Wyndham Clark, as the tournament winner, and his other picks for the top finishers aligned with their rankings at that moment.
The lawsuit claims that DraftKings accepted that bet and promised to pay Bavas $4,651,571 if every one of Bavas’ picks was correct.
About 20 minutes later, he placed a $25 bet on a different parlay for a potential payout of $250,068.
Around 11 pm, Bavas placed a third bet, this time for $50 on a bet similar to his first bet. That bet had an alleged payout of $2,325,786.
His fourth bet was identical to the first, for $100, with a $4,651,571 payout.
Minutes later, he placed a fifth bet for $50, identical to his third bet, with a $2,325,786 payout.
On February 4, PGA Tour referees continually delayed the scheduled start of the final round of tournament play due to rain and wind.
That evening, the PGA Tour’s rules committees announced that play would cease the following day, and the tournament results would be considered final.
Nicholas Bavas Won All of His DraftKings Bets
Nicholas Bavas placed five bets on DraftKings and won them all for a total potential payout of $14.2 million.
However, the lawsuit alleges that DraftKings “unilaterally voided” all five of his bets and refunded the wagered amounts, citing rules that say “futures bets” placed after the last shot of what is later determined to be the final round are voided.
The lawsuit seeks damages for breach of contract and violations of consumer-protection laws.
DraftKings has yet to file a response to the lawsuit.
