DraftKings

ProPublica reporter Jake Pearson lost $10,000 betting on DraftKings while imitating the behaviour of a problem gambler to test the company's responsible gaming protections. Within a week he was invited to become a VIP, and he encountered little pushback as his losses mounted. The investigation suggests DraftKings' safeguards may fail to protect vulnerable gamblers, drawing widespread attention to the platform's practices.

A ProPublica investigation reports that a reporter who intentionally gambled like someone with a serious problem was nonetheless courted by DraftKings as a VIP customer. Despite the company's "responsible gaming" tools and prompts, the reporter found they were no match for the incentives and product design encouraging continued betting. The story lands amid growing public health concerns over sports gambling in the United States and scrutiny of how operators treat at-risk players.

A ProPublica investigation reports that a reporter who deliberately gambled like someone with a serious gambling problem was nonetheless courted by DraftKings, which granted them VIP status and incentives to keep betting. The findings fuel criticism that major US sports betting companies prioritize high-loss customers over responsible gambling safeguards, reviving debate about regulation of the fast-growing online sportsbook industry.

DraftKings is accused of using artificial intelligence to identify customers who are losing large amounts of money and steer them toward placing more bets, according to a report circulating in US news outlets. The allegation has drawn criticism from gambling-safety advocates who say such targeting exploits vulnerable users and raises questions about the ethics of AI in the fast-growing sports betting industry.

ProPublica reports that a reporter who intentionally gambled like someone with a gambling problem was nonetheless courted by DraftKings, which granted them VIP status and host attention. The investigation raises questions about how sports betting companies identify and reward customers showing signs of addiction, and whether industry safeguards to protect problem gamblers are working as intended.