WUT?

DraftKings CEO @JasonDRobins was asked about my @propublica story on problem gambling and online sports betting at the @nextpredictio yesterday. He made some comments that just aren’t true.

🧵Let’s set the record straight:

Meanwhile, here’s a link to the story: propublica.org/article/draftk…

You can also watch our new documentary about my experiment here: youtube.com/watch?v=l8IyGj…    

Or if you bet on sports online, help us with our reporting by submitting your app data here: propublica.org/sportsbetting

POLITICAL PARLAYS: Betting companies are making big $ donations via an innocuous sounding PAC to New York D reps, gov and AG. Watchdog says the goal is so that the “…good deed will hopefully be remembered down the line — and repaid.” @nysfocus nysfocus.com/2026/10/19/new…

The NBA and prominent sportsbooks have agreed to ban multiple types of bets, per me and @DavidPurdum, such as:

- Parlay bets involving the under on the same player's statistics
- "First of" market; examples: winner of opening tip, an individual's specific shot, rebound, assist, steal
- Under bets on players expected to play less than 12 minutes a game

After a decorated 24-year run at ESPN, Nicole Noren resigned in protest.

She couldn’t go along with the network’s all-out embrace of gambling.

For the first time publicly, in @CJR, Noren shares the deeply personal reasons behind her decision.

cjr.org/the-interview/…

News: The FTC is beginning to probe the now massive online sports gambling industry

Some social conservatives within the GOP have grown alarmed by impact on young men despite general embrace by Trump admin

washingtonsun.com/administration…

WATCH HOW WE YEET: The @propublica doc team filmed it all as I deliberately bet like a problem gambler to test the online sports betting industry’s “responsible gaming” guardrails. DraftKings made me a VIP after one week. Watch the action. youtu.be/l8IyGjdY1sg

NEW: New York Plans Stronger Sports Betting Regulation to Curb Gambling Addiction propublica.org/article/new-yo… @JakePearsonProP

FIGURES: A West Virginia researcher crunching state betting numbers finds 43M bets placed by just ~16K bettors. And when does demand spike for slots? Every second, third and fourth Wednesday — Social Security payday. @MyBuckhannon mybuckhannon.com/high-roller-a-…

in fairness Jeff is eight foot three

HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY: @Polymarket unveils “responsible trading” tools amid growing concern over from-your-phone, all-the-time betting. Mirrors sports books’ own “responsible gaming” guardrails, subject of my latest for @propublica. h/t @MarshallCohen cnn.com/2026/09/30/bus…

NEW: I posed as a problem gambler on DraftKings to test the company’s “responsible gaming” safeguards.

Spoiler Alert: They invited me into the VIP program after just one week. Here’s how I yeeted $20K+ ripping riskier and risker bets 🧵

I also want to acknowledge that this was a controlled experiment. I could walk away. That’s not always easy for everyone.

I couldn’t — and didn’t try — to mimic how problem gambling can impact your real life outside the app in harmful ways.

We’re still reporting on this topic. If you use apps like DraftKings and FanDuel or have experience in the gambling industry, you can help our reporting by sharing your transaction history with us.

projects.propublica.org/sports-betting…