TLDR A Pennsylvania lawsuit accuses DraftKings, FanDuel, and the NFL of designing microbetting products that drive gambling addiction The complaint compares microbetting speed and frequency to slot machines, calling the apps a “relentless, always-on addiction-amplifying machine” Two plaintiffs claim they nearly lost everything after transitioning to mobile sportsbook apps Genius Sports earned $126.1 million in 2025 from live in-game microbetting commissions Multiple states are now moving to ban or restrict microbetting and certain prop bets
A new lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania accuses DraftKings, FanDuel, the NFL, and Genius Sports of designing online sports betting platforms that intentionally drive users toward gambling addiction through microbetting.
The Public Health Advocacy Institute filed the complaint on behalf of two plaintiffs, Christopher Sage and Terry Thompson. Both claim they developed severe gambling disorders after using the sportsbook apps.
The lawsuit argues that microbetting allows users to wager on a nearly endless stream of in-game events. Every play, pitch, shot, and second becomes a new betting opportunity as odds update in real time.
The complaint describes the apps as a “relentless, always-on addiction-amplifying machine.” It claims the operators have weaponized mobile technology and artificial intelligence to funnel users into continuous wagering.
Microbetting Compared to Slot Machines
The filing draws a direct comparison between microbetting and slot machines. It argues that the speed and frequency of in-game prop bets mirror the fast-paced design of slots, which are widely considered among the most addictive forms of gambling.
Each live in-game prop bet is completed within minutes or even seconds, according to the complaint. The lawsuit says this creates a system with “no off-ramps or pauses in the action.”
The two plaintiffs say they watched sports and placed occasional bets without problems for nearly 20 years. Their behavior changed after they started using mobile sportsbook