One bettor thinks DraftKings may have shanked one off the tee.
Last year, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am became a hot topic not only for golf lovers but also for people involved in sports betting. The tournament had to end early because of bad weather, wrapping up after only 54 holes instead of the usual 72.
The story was broken by The Independent.
Because of this, the officials named Wyndham Clark the winner since he was in the lead.
While some fans were unhappy with the sudden finish, it caused a big stir in the sports betting world, leading to a legal fight that's making news in 2025.
The Legal Drama: Nicholas Bavas vs. DraftKings
Enter Nicholas Bavas, a bettor from Iowa who is now suing the sports betting giant DraftKings for a little over $14 million.
Bavas claims DraftKings unfairly canceled his winning bets on the 2024 tournament. Even as the weather threatened the event's schedule, DraftKings allowed bets to continue, and Bavas, along with others, placed bets on potential outcomes. But when the tournament was called off early, DraftKings voided Bavas' bets, returning only his initial stakes, arguing that "future bets" made after the de facto final round were not valid.
The plaintiff argues that even if part of a bet could be canceled, the rest should still have been paid out, with the odds adjusted accordingly.
The Crux of the Lawsuit
In his lawsuit, Bavas asserts that DraftKings has confusing rules regarding how bets are handled when unforeseen events, like weather disruptions, affect a tournament.
He argues that the rules applied by DraftKings didn't align with the type of bets he placed, which involved multiple players rather than a single outright winner.
In essence, Bavas contends that if DraftKings canceled parts of his bets, such as picking Wyndham Clark as the winner, they should have at least adjusted the odds for the other components of his multi-player bets. Instead, DraftKings voided them entirely, which Bavas claims is a breach of contract and a violation of consumer protection laws.
The complaint reads: "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.”
The Pebble Beach Tournament Has a Storied History
To give some context, the Pebble Beach Pro-Am has been part of the PGA Tour calendar since the late 1930s.
Originally known as the Bing Crosby National Pro-Amateur, it was founded by the famous entertainer Bing Crosby and has since become one of the most popular stops in professional golf. Held on the beautiful courses along California's Monterey Peninsula, it combines the competitive nature of professional golf with the fun of celebrity participation, attracting a wide range of fans and players every year.
The Battle Will Now Play Out in Court
The ongoing lawsuit by Bavas has not only highlighted potential gaps in DraftKings' betting policies but also stirred discussions about consumer rights in sports betting.
As the case unfolds, many will be watching to see how it could impact future betting policies at DraftKings and across the sports betting industry as a whole. While the 2024 tournament at Pebble Beach ended in controversy, it has set the stage for essential conversations about fairness and regulations in sports wagering.
