FanDuel Faces Criticism After MLB Parlay Win

The Parlay that Drew Attention

A seven-leg Major League Baseball home run parlay recently generated widespread attention on social media. The bet, which reportedly ended with James Wood of the Washington Nationals hitting a home run against the San Diego Padres, allowed one bettor to turn an $11 wager into a $100,000 prize. Many other bettors who followed the same tip also secured payouts, resulting in substantial overall losses for FanDuel.

Following the payout, users on X alleged that FanDuel altered its terms and conditions to limit similar future wins. The debate escalated after a post, reportedly from a FanDuel VIP representative in New Jersey, stated that new rules permitted voiding bets placed by “groups acting in conjunction” or by accounts used for “business purposes.” Some users pointed out what they viewed as inconsistent practices, noting that while FanDuel promotes parlays endorsed by public figures such as Rob Gronkowski, it appeared critical of group betting strategies among regular customers.

FanDuel’s Official Response

FanDuel rejected claims of sudden rule changes. Its customer support team explained that the cited terms—clause 15.2.5 on business usage and clause 8.13 on voiding bets suspected of fraud—have applied in all jurisdictions where FanDuel operates since at least 2020. A company confirmed that no bets linked to the parlay were voided in New Jersey.

The company noted that the update to its terms on June 24, which coincided with the parlay’s success, involved administrative changes. These included a new mailing address and an added clause regarding harassment of athletes, introduced after a separate incident involving Gabby Thomas. FanDuel emphasized that all winning bets were paid as outlined in its rules, including the standard $1 million maximum payout per bet.

Industry Views

Independent industry outlet SportsBettingDime.com reported that the concerns about rule changes lacked foundation. It highlighted that the referenced terms existed prior to the parlay event and were designed to address fraudulent activity rather than coordinated betting by groups. FanDuel has encouraged customers to report any specific cases where they believe they were treated unfairly as it seeks to address user concerns.