September 17 – The Major League Baseball Players Association filed suit against four sports betting companies on Monday, claiming the companies do not have the right to use players’ names and images as their brands.
DraftKings and FanDuel are the focus of the lawsuit, with players also seeking compensatory and punitive damages from Bet365 and Underdog Fantasy. DraftKings and Bet365 are being sued in federal court in Philadelphia, while the two other sportsbooks plan to appear in New York state court.
Major League Baseball accused sportsbooks of “serious” violations of state laws designed to protect players in the public eye. Photos of players often appear on sports betting sites and mobile apps, and MLB said players believe this can be deceptive because sports betting users may believe they are betting on a player’s game.
“For professional athletes, the ability to control the commercial use of their name, image and likeness is a significant return on the substantial investment they make in their careers,” the players said.
ESPN said Bet365 could not be reached after business hours. The other three sportsbooks have not yet responded for comment.
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