DraftKings CEO Robins urges parents to talk to children about gambling as Rutgers finds 42.7% of teens gambled
In a CNBC interview, DraftKings chief executive Jason Robins said every parent should discuss gambling with their children. A Rutgers study released the same day found 42.7% of US teens aged 13 to 17 gambled in the past year.
GamblingSource: GamblingNews
DraftKings chief executive Jason Robins has called on parents to speak openly with their children about gambling and its risks. He made the remarks in a CNBC interview published on Wednesday, October 28, in which he covered a range of subjects, including the responsibility of adults to steer young people away from gambling-related harm.
Robins said every parent should have these conversations, including those who do not work in the industry or live in a world where children grow up around betting. He said his own children are familiar with gambling terminology, but that he has made sure they will not take part until they reach the age of 21, when they can legally bet. He argued that candid discussion is more effective than trying to hide the subject from children.
The comments coincided with the release of new research. A Rutgers study published the same day found that 42.7% of US teenagers aged 13 to 17 had gambled in the past year. Separately, a survey by the NCPG and Harris Poll suggested that most parents already worry that their children will gamble before reaching the legal age.
Robins also discussed consumer protection tools, including limits on betting activity and self-exclusion, which he compared to wearing a seatbelt when driving. He acknowledged that only a small percentage of customers use limits of any kind. However, he said that even a small share represents a meaningful number of people, which is why the company has invested heavily in these products.
Industry efforts on safeguards are also moving ahead at the association level. The Responsible Online Gaming Association, of which DraftKings is a member, is working on a national self-exclusion list that would apply across its members. The aim is to strengthen consumer protections by allowing a player's decision to self-exclude to be recognised by multiple operators rather than a single platform.
The remarks come as the US betting industry continues to expand, bringing growing attention to the potential negative consequences of that growth, particularly for younger people.
Based on reporting by GamblingNews.