DraftKings Under Growing Pressure Over How It Targets Customers

DraftKings is facing growing pressure over how it targets customers, according to The New York Times. DraftKings is a popular sports betting app that people use on their phones. The pressure centers on how the company picks and reaches the people it markets to.

What we know

The material available so far is brief. It says the focus is on how DraftKings chooses and contacts its customers. It does not say which methods are in question, who is applying the pressure, or what the company has said in response. Those details are not yet clear.

Who it affects

Anyone who bets on apps could be touched by this. That includes people who get offers, alerts or messages from a betting app on their phone. It also includes family members who may be sharing a household with someone who bets. Targeted offers are messages aimed at a specific person rather than the general public.

What to do

If you or someone in your family bets on apps, expect targeted offers. It helps to know how to limit the messages and the spending. A few steps are worth a look:

• Open the app's settings and review notification and marketing choices.
• Check your phone's settings for which apps can send alerts.
• Look for spending limit tools inside any betting app you use.

What happens next

Watch for whether lawmakers or regulators step in with new rules on betting marketing. No such rules are described in the material so far, and it is not known whether any are planned. Further reporting should show how far the pressure goes and whether the company changes its approach.