Possibly the best way to treat gambling addiction is to join a class action lawsuit against the predatory gambling platforms that profit by bankrupting their customers. That’s the path being taken by one gambling addict who claims the gambling platform DraftKings took him for over $2 million.

Dane Miller is a resident of Cook County, Illinois, who opened a DraftKings account in October 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the size and frequency of his wagers increased, he reached VIP status at DraftKings in 2021, which apparently stands for Victim In Progress.

DraftKings lured him with push notifications and perks, such as free tickets to a suite at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears. Miller fueled his gambling addiction with credit cards, personal loans, and loans against his 401(K) retirement account.

Miller lost his job due to his gambling addiction in September 2024. In October 2024 — four years after he began playing with DraftKings — he was suicidal and checked himself into Northwest Community Hospital, where he has received treatment for gambling addiction.

Forbes recently ran a profile of Dane Miller. Unfortunately, Forbes has begun using the same AI tool to force content into headings such as “key facts” and “surprising fact” in a manner similar to Axios. The practice is tied to a decline in reading and comprehension. The key fact here being Miller lost more than $2 million in four years.

Miller is fighting back. He filed a personal injury lawsuit against DraftKings alleging “wrongful conduct in connection with the development, design, promotion, advertisement, marketing, and operation” of the DraftKings app. Miller goes on to cite the problems with the DraftKings app:

DraftKings relies heavily on behavioral analytics, secret algorithms, and “hyper-personalized retention efforts” to create a highly addictive product.

The lawsuit itself is a guided tour through the many tricks employed by DraftKings to keep people gambling, including:

• gamification tactics
• use of local influencers
• funneling tactics
• parlays
• in-game betting
• micro bets
• continuous wagering

Miller argues that, instead of cutting off people with gambling problems the way casinos are required to do, DraftKings targets them with relentless offers. He accuses DraftKings of grooming young addicts with support for fantasy sports leagues: “Fantasy sports are the gateway drug to online sports betting product use and addiction.”

Miller points out the grim math behind DraftKings’ profits. Unlike other addictions, gambling addiction is strongly associated with suicidal ideation. There is a national mental health crisis hotline 9-8-8 for people who might feel suicidal or know someone who is. There’s also a problem gambling hotline, 1-800-GAMBLER.

But don’t use the new, phony gambling addiction hotline, MYRESET, which is funded by — wait for it — DraftKings! I’m sure you can trust their guidance. No matter how much money you lost or how quickly you lost it, it couldn’t possibly be as a result of the design of their app.

There’s something else you can do for a loved one who has a gambling problem: convince them to join a class action suit against the gambling syndicates that took all their money. This is important for several reasons, but first and foremost, it assists in being able to resist the urge to gamble.

We have learned at AddictionNews that habit substitution is important for people who suffer from substance use disorders and behavioral disorders. People with a gambling problem need to find something that substitutes for the excitement and stress relief provided by gambling. A lawsuit is a perfect substitute.

You can check in on a lawsuit frequently, as gamblers do, and there’s a big potential payday at the end if you win. Suing gambling syndicates is a tailor-made habit substitution therapy for people who have been wiped out by these predatory platforms. You will be helping make the world a safer place, and there’s a chance for a major windfall at the end.

Written by Steve O’Keefe. First published July 1, 2026.

Sources:

“Illinois Man Sues DraftKings For Allegedly Fueling Gambling Addiction,” Forbes, June 26, 2026.

“DANE MILLER, Plaintiff, v. DRAFTKINGS INC.; AND CASINOQUEEN, INC., Defendants,” United States District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, June 25, 2026.

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