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BusinessFading · day 4

ProPublica reporter simulates a gambling spiral on DraftKings to test its safeguards

Using money from his own editors, Jake Pearson mimicked a problem gambler's betting patterns on DraftKings and says the app barely pushed back.

newest coverage 6h agosummary written 3d ago7 pieces695 likes & upvotes21 comments MastodonNewswiresBlueskyHacker News

What to know

  • A ProPublica reporter used editor-provided money to deliberately replicate a problem gambler's escalating betting patterns on DraftKings.
  • The investigation found the app offered minimal intervention or pushback as the simulated risky behavior intensified.
  • The report raises questions about whether sports betting platforms' consumer-protection and responsible-gambling tools function as advertised.

Jake Pearson ProPublica reporterProPublica Nonprofit newsroom publishing the investigationDraftKings Sports betting platform under scrutiny

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage posts

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Oct 11Oct 12yesterdaynow · 5:59 AM ET
  1. 1
    “What he didn’t expect was how little pushback he’d get as he spiraled.”
    — ProPublica
    • propublica.org

      WATCH: Reporter Jake Pearson had an idea: Ask ProPublica editors for $$$, mimic the patterns of a problem gambler on DraftKings and see if the app would encourage his recklessness. What he didn’t expect was how little pushback he’d get as he spiraled.

      propublica.orgBluesky3d ago383▲view on Bluesky ↗
    3 posts in this stretch →

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