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DraftKings account closed hours after reporter sent questions

Published: 1 min read
An empty leather armchair sits in a dim, quiet room beside a dark wall-mounted panel, its blank glass reflecting a single low amber lamp on a bare wooden side table.

A YouTube documentary on the investigation has passed 6m views in three weeks.

The hit

DraftKings closed a ProPublica reporter’s account on 27 October, hours after the reporter sent the company questions for a follow-up story, according to ProPublica. The reporter had spent 10 weeks deliberately betting like a problem gambler for a $22,000 investigation, reaching VIP status after three weeks & about $6,000 of losses.

Why it matters

The closure lands as regulators across the country cite the original investigation when announcing they will examine how DraftKings & rival operators encourage continued betting. Federal & state officials were separately demanding answers about how the company lures in & keeps customers, according to ProPublica. In Ohio, regulators are proposing a rule to restrict marketing practices tied to one of the investigation’s findings, ProPublica reports.

The record

Responsible-gaming messages sent during the betting spree about 30 (DraftKings’ Lori Kalani)
Account balance refunded after closure 94 cents (ProPublica)
YouTube documentary views in three weeks more than 6m (ProPublica)
DraftKings CEO’s comment on the reporter’s case ‘pretty proud of how we handled it’ (Jason Robins, CNBC, 22 October)

What happens next

ProPublica says it is still collecting bettor wagering data for further reporting.

Sources: I Investigated DraftKings. Then the Company Closed My Account.

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