Star Attorney's Downfall: Chris Swett Loses Career to Gambling Addiction

It is a story that illustrates how far one can fall when gambling becomes an all-consuming destructive force. William Christopher Swett was not just any lawyer. He worked for Motley Rice, one of the most prestigious class-action firms in the US, and was involved in settlements worth over $100 million. But while he celebrated successes in the courtroom, he was privately gambling away his life. Between 2018 and 2024, he systematically stole $1.5 million from his own clients and employer. He invented fictitious clients, forged medical records, and fabricated death certificates to obtain firm funds for his betting passion.

Today, the 43-year-old stands amidst the ruins of his existence. In March 2026, he pleaded guilty in a federal court in Charleston to wire fraud and money laundering. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse expects the actual damages to be significantly higher than the $1.5 million cited so far. Swett is currently awaiting his sentencing, which could send him behind bars for up to 20 years. While he once moved millions, he has spent the last year managing a Waffle House branch to earn a living. He fully expects not to spend Christmas with his wife and four children.

Numbers and facts

The scale of his activity at the provider FanDuel is particularly shocking. Between April 2022 and April 2024 alone, Swett wagered around $11 million on daily fantasy sports (DFS). In his home state of South Carolina, traditional sports betting is illegal, which is why he turned to these gray-market products. He played NBA contests with a $3,300 entry fee. Despite hundreds of depositions and family commitments, he placed an average of six entries a day, every single day. The net loss at FanDuel alone during this period amounted to over $800,000. In total, Swett estimates his losses at around $1.3 million, and he even took out a second mortgage on his home behind his wife's back.

Today, Swett is particularly critical of the role played by so-called VIP hosts. He regularly received incentives to keep playing, even when he wanted to take a break.

"The perk that really got me was the monthly rebate. If I were to gamble $750,000 a month, I would get 6% back. That was $45,000 a month in promotion money. I wasn't even chasing the money anymore to win the bet; it turned into chasing that number." - Chris Swett, former attorney

Background

Swett describes his addiction as a gradual process that began in 2018. His first contact with a VIP host occurred in October 2019, when he was already wagering about $25,000 a month. Providers lured him with tickets to NFL, NBA, and NHL games, as well as exclusive access to prestigious golf events like The Masters. FanDuel defended itself in a letter to the U.S. Congress, stating that VIP customers have regular contact with responsible gaming managers and that all emails include links to player protection tools. For Swett, this was not enough. He now writes about his experiences on his Substack blog to help other victims. For him, writing was initially pure therapy, but he now receives messages from other professionals like dentists or financial advisors caught in similar traps.

Why it matters for German players

A case like Chris Swett's would theoretically be much more difficult to occur in Germany under the strict regulations of the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021). While Swett was able to wager millions in the U.S. without effective interruption, harsh protective measures apply here. The cross-operator deposit limit of 1,000 euros per month ensures that players cannot pump unlimited capital into the system without a comprehensive credit check. Furthermore, the LUGAS IT system prevents players from being active with multiple providers at the same time. The common U.S. practice of driving players to extreme turnover with high cashbacks is heavily regulated in Germany through strict advertising guidelines and bonus restrictions. Anyone playing in a GGL-licensed casino is also subject to the obligation for early detection of gambling addiction, which is intended to prevent extreme escalations like Swett's.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For operators with a license from the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL), the Swett case is a warning. The GGL strictly monitors whether providers violate their duty of care. VIP programs based purely on turnover maximization are under critical observation. In Germany, providers must intervene immediately if conspicuous gaming behavior is detected and, if necessary, initiate a ban via the OASIS system. A VIP host who encourages a player with massive losses to continue playing risks the revocation of their license in Germany. German licensed casinos are obliged to prioritize player safety over profit, which stands in stark contrast to the U.S. practice where Swett continued to be courted as a "valuable customer" despite his obvious distress.