I Posed as a Problem Gambler. DraftKings Made Me a VIP
5 hours ago
- The reporter lost $1,800 in one night by chasing losses and was subsequently invited to DraftKings' VIP program.
- Sportsbooks are expanding into online casinos, where rapid losses are common; the reporter played 500 rounds of blackjack in a weekend.
- Responsible gaming prompts were easily dismissed and ineffective against aggressive promotions designed to encourage more gambling.
- DraftKings uses machine learning to identify losing customers and offers them tailored promotions to keep them betting.
- The VIP program incentivizes reckless betting by rewarding high spending on long-odds wagers.
- Despite exhibiting multiple signs of problem gambling, the reporter received minimal intervention from DraftKings.
- FanDuel provided more frequent reminders but did not invite the reporter to a VIP program.
- The reporter's winning streak led to increased promotions, but ultimately ended with significant losses.
- DraftKings' responsible gaming tools are opt-in and rarely used, with the company relying on self-policing.