spam_texts · 6 min read

How to Get Paid for Spam Texts From Sportsbooks

Receiving an unwanted spam text from a sportsbook is more than just an annoyance. It could be a violation of federal law that entitles you to compensation. Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), consumers can recover $500 for every illegal text message or robocall they receive. If a company knowingly or willfully breaks the law, that amount can increase to $1,500 per violation. With the explosion of online sports betting, many companies are using aggressive, and sometimes illegal, text message marketing campaigns to attract customers. These unwanted sports betting texts can clutter your phone and violate your privacy. Fortunately, the TCPA gives you the power to fight back and hold these companies accountable for their actions.

Why Are You Getting Sportsbook Spam Texts?

The legalization of online sports betting in many states has created a digital gold rush. Companies are competing fiercely for your attention and your deposits, and text message marketing is one of their primary tools. It is cheap, direct, and has high open rates. However, this rush to acquire customers often leads to companies cutting corners on legal compliance. They may buy lists of phone numbers, fail to get proper consent, or ignore unsubscribe requests, all in the name of growth.

Many consumers receive these texts without ever having signed up for a specific betting app. This can happen if your number was part of a data breach or was sold by a third-party data broker. In other cases, you might have created an account but never agreed to receive marketing messages. Some companies bury consent language in long, confusing terms of service agreements, hoping you will not notice. Regardless of how they got your number, if they sent you marketing texts using an autodialer without your permission, they may have broken the law.

How the TCPA Regulates Sports Betting Texts

The TCPA provides specific rules for how businesses can contact consumers on their mobile phones. The most important rule for marketing messages concerns consent. For a sportsbook to legally send you promotional texts using an automated system, it must have your “prior express written consent.” This is a high standard that requires a clear and conspicuous disclosure informing you that you are agreeing to receive marketing texts. The disclosure must also state that agreeing to the texts is not a condition of purchasing any goods or services.

This means that simply creating an account, placing a bet, or checking a pre-filled box is often not enough to constitute valid consent. The agreement must be in writing (an electronic signature or button click counts) and it must be unambiguous. Any text message sent without this level of permission could be considered an unsolicited SMS lawsuit waiting to happen. Understanding these sportsbook text message laws is the first step toward protecting your rights and potentially collecting damages for violations.

What Qualifies as an Illegal Sportsbook Text?

A text from a sportsbook can be illegal under several common scenarios. The most frequent violation is sending promotional texts to consumers who never gave prior express written consent. If you have never interacted with a betting company but receive a text offering a “risk-free bet” or a “deposit bonus,” that message is likely illegal. These are the classic examples of a company using an autodialer to blast out messages to a list of numbers without proper permission.

Another clear violation occurs when a company continues to text you after you have revoked consent. Replying “STOP” to a marketing message is a legally binding way to opt out. The company must honor your request within a reasonable time, which is generally considered to be about 10 business days. If they continue sending you offers after you have told them to stop, each subsequent text is a new and separate violation. You can learn more about how this works by reading our guide on if reply STOP texts are legal. This includes texts from different numbers that are clearly from the same company.

Finally, some spam texts from sportsbooks may be part of a phishing scheme. These messages, known as smishing, might not even come from a real sportsbook but from a scammer trying to steal your personal information. A text that urges you to click a strange link to claim a prize could be a smishing TCPA lawsuit in the making, as scammers also use illegal autodialing technology. If you suspect a text is a scam, do not click any links or provide any information.

How Much Money Can You Get for These Spam Texts?

The TCPA empowers consumers by setting specific statutory damages for violations. For each text message that violates the law, you may be entitled to recover $500. This amount is not a ceiling, it is a per-violation penalty. If you received ten illegal texts from the same company, you could potentially claim $5,000. These damages are designed to make it costly for companies to ignore consumer privacy rights.

Furthermore, if you can prove that the sportsbook sent the texts willfully or knowingly, the damages can be tripled to $1,500 per violation. A willful violation could include continuing to text you long after you replied STOP or using technology designed to hide the sender's identity. The federal statute of limitations for TCPA claims is four years, so you can go back and find violations that occurred within that timeframe. You can review our TCPA Settlement Tracker to see how these claims have resulted in significant payouts for consumers across the country. If you think you have a case, you can submit your evidence for a free review. This article is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Examples of Illegal Sportsbook Spam Texts

Illegal sportsbook texts often look like legitimate marketing, but they are unsolicited. They might use enticing language or create a sense of urgency to get you to act. Here are a few examples of what these texts can look like:

FinalScore Bets: HUGE ODDS BOOST! The Lakers are +500 to win tonight. This is a lock! Bet now before the line moves. Click here to claim your boost: bit.ly/FinalScoreOdds

WinBig Sports: Your account has been credited with a $25 FREE BET! No deposit required. Use it on any game this weekend. Log in to your account now: winbig.bet/free25

(310) 555-1234: Hey it's Mike from the inside. Got a guaranteed winner for the NFL Sunday slate. Tailing this one myself. You in? Text YES for the pick. First game is almost live!

How to Check Your Phone for Violations

Your phone is the primary source of evidence for a TCPA claim. Take a few minutes to search your text message history for potential violations. Open your messaging app and use the search function to look for keywords related to sports betting. Search for terms like “bet,” “odds,” “bonus,” “deposit,” “FanDuel,” “DraftKings,” “risk-free,” and the names of any other sportsbooks.

Once you find a suspicious message, you need to document it properly. A good screenshot is critical evidence. Your screenshot should clearly show:

Do not delete the messages from your phone. Save the screenshots in a dedicated folder and make a note of the sender's number and the date for each violation you find. The more organized your evidence is, the stronger your potential claim will be.

Check Your Phone Right Now

Many people ignore illegal texts because they contain instructions on how to opt out. However, the law focuses on whether the company had permission to text you in the first place, not on whether they told you how to make it stop.

Open your messages and search the word STOP.

Every time you replied STOP to a company, you created a clear record of revoking consent. If they ever texted you again after that, each message could be a willful violation worth up to $1,500. Even the initial text that prompted your STOP reply could be a violation worth $500 if it was sent without your prior express written consent. Go through your history and document every instance. When you are ready, you can submit screenshots at SpamClaims.com for a free, no-obligation case review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal for sportsbooks like DraftKings or FanDuel to text me?

It is only legal for major sports betting platforms to send you marketing text messages if they have your prior express written consent. Simply having an account with them or placing a bet is not sufficient consent under the TCPA. You must have affirmatively agreed, in writing, to receive promotional texts. The consent form must clearly state that you are agreeing to marketing messages and that doing so is not a condition of using their service. If you receive promotional texts from any sportsbook without having given this specific type of consent, those messages may be illegal. Each one could be worth $500 to $1,500 in statutory damages.

What if I signed up but do not remember agreeing to texts?

This is a very common situation. Many companies use confusing interfaces or bury consent language within lengthy terms and conditions, hoping users will agree without realizing it. Under the TCPA, the burden of proof is on the company to demonstrate they obtained clear and conspicuous consent. If you do not remember agreeing to texts, it is possible the consent they claim to have is not legally valid. An attorney can help analyze the company's sign-up process to determine if their consent mechanism complies with federal law. Do not assume you agreed just because you received a text. Save the evidence and have it reviewed.

How do I prove a sportsbook sent me spam texts?

Proof is primarily based on the evidence on your phone. The best way to prove you received an illegal text is to take a clear screenshot of the message. The screenshot must capture the full text of the message, the phone number it came from, and the date and time it was delivered. It is also crucial to keep the original message on your phone, as this digital record serves as the primary evidence. If you replied STOP, screenshot that message and any subsequent messages you received from that number. Compiling these screenshots creates a powerful record of the violations you have endured.

Can I get money if I text STOP and they keep texting me?

Yes. Texting STOP is a legally recognized method of revoking your consent to receive marketing messages. Once you send that command, the company is legally obligated to stop texting you promotions within a reasonable period. If they continue to send you marketing texts after you have opted out, each text sent after your STOP request is a new violation of the TCPA. Furthermore, these subsequent violations are often considered willful, which could increase the potential damages from $500 to $1,500 per message. This makes documenting texts received after a STOP request particularly important for your claim.

TLDR

Submit your spam screenshots for attorney review

This article is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.