DraftKings Chief Says Parents Must Explain Gambling Odds to Kids

Jason Robins, the chief executive of DraftKings, stated that parents should discuss the risks of gambling addiction with their children regardless of their own professional backgrounds.

Robins told CNBC's Contessa Brewer that he has already had these conversations with his own children. He noted that his kids have absorbed industry vocabulary, including terms like point spreads and money lines. He said they often ask which side he supports in a game so they know where to place their bets, a dynamic he finds amusing. He clarified that he explained the business mechanics when they were young, but they must wait until age 21 to participate.

Recent medical data underscores the urgency of this discussion. An analysis of health records found that gambling disorder diagnoses increased by approximately 61% in states where sports betting is legal. In states without legalization, cases dropped by roughly 30% between 2018 and 2026. The study identified men aged 18 to 29 as the demographic with the highest rates of the disorder. Researchers noted that increased awareness and better medical coding may contribute to these figures.

Robins compared the need for open dialogue to explaining why a parent might drink wine. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a transparent relationship where children feel comfortable asking questions. He referenced data from the National Council on Problem Gambling, which indicates that 8% of American adults, or nearly 20 million people, reported frequent problematic gambling behaviors in the past year.

To address these trends, DraftKings provides responsible gaming tools, including account limits and self-exclusion options that allow customers to block access to the platform. Robins stated that the company also proactively blocks accounts based on observed behavior. He argued that self-exclusion is more effective in some states where regulators share exclusion lists among different operators.

The industry is working toward a unified solution. The Responsible Online Gaming Association, a group of major online gaming firms, is developing a nationwide self-exclusion list. Robins acknowledged that privacy laws and regulatory differences complicate the effort, but he expressed confidence that the group is making progress. He suggested that mandatory limit setting could become a standard practice, similar to wearing a seat belt. He noted that while some users may feel the tools are unnecessary, others benefit from having predefined boundaries.