Watch: Inside Our $22K Sports Betting Experiment

In a recent experiment, ProPublica reporter Jake Pearson spent ten weeks engaging in sports betting through DraftKings and FanDuel, the two largest online sportsbooks in the country. Pearson's goal was to observe how these apps handled a problem gambler's behavior, pushing him to bet more and often, in an attempt to flag the red flags of an addiction.

The surge in sports betting since 2018, when the Supreme Court allowed states to legalize the activity, has led to over $600 billion in wagers, generating billions in state tax revenue. However, the rise in betting has also brought concerns over gambling addiction, bankruptcy, and self-harm. According to a poll by the Siena Research Institute, about a quarter of active sportsbook account holders have lost enough on a bet that they'd struggle to meet their financial obligations.

While DraftKings and FanDuel offer responsible gaming tools, Pearson noticed design choices and promotions that seemed to encourage continued betting, even after he set limits on his play. The documentary follows Pearson as he intentionally descends into problem gambling and examines how the apps respond to his behavior. ProPublica is seeking at least 250 people who use apps like DraftKings or FanDuel to share their data, which will help understand how the apps react to user behavior.