Blind Man Sues DraftKings Citing Website Accessibility Issues
Summary
A class-action complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York accuses DraftKings Inc. of failing to make its website accessible to blind users. Plaintiff Anthony Benson, who is permanently blind following bilateral enucleation, says he tried to use DraftKings in July and August for fantasy football and wagering but encountered persistent barriers that made the site incompatible with standard screen-reading software.
The suit lists systemic accessibility failures such as unlabeled form fields, broken links, promotional images missing alternative text, and inaccessible pop-up windows. Benson alleges these problems deny blind users equal access and breach the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the New York City Human Rights Law, New York State civil rights statutes and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). He seeks declaratory relief and class certification on behalf of other legally blind Americans who faced similar obstacles.
Key Points
- Anthony Benson filed the complaint on 24 September 2025 in the SDNY, seeking class status for disabled users denied access to DraftKings’ website.
- The plaintiff reports the site is incompatible with standard screen-reading software due to unlabeled fields, broken links, missing alt text and inaccessible pop-ups.
- The lawsuit alleges violations of the ADA, New York City Human Rights Law, New York State civil rights statutes and WCAG requirements.
- Benson claims he was deterred from returning despite intending to take part in upcoming NFL fantasy contests and promotions.
- If successful, the case could increase regulatory and legal pressure on gambling operators to meet accessibility standards across web and mobile platforms.
Context and Relevance
This case lands at the intersection of digital accessibility law and the heavily regulated gambling sector. DraftKings is a major player with millions of U.S. customers; alleged non-compliance could spur more litigation, force industry-wide accessibility audits and prompt regulators to tighten scrutiny. For operators, designers and legal teams, the ruling could reshape compliance priorities and UX investment. For disabled users, it highlights ongoing barriers to equal participation in online services.
Why should I read this?
Short answer: because a big-name betting firm is being taken to court over basic accessibility failings. If you work in gambling, compliance, web development or accessibility advocacy, this could affect policy, fines and UX roadmaps — and it’s exactly the sort of case that’ll set precedents. If you just want the gist, we’ve boiled it down so you don’t have to wade through the filing yourself.
