{
  "id": 9949186,
  "title": "I Deliberately Bet Like a Problem Gambler. DraftKings Made Me a VIP.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/i-deliberately-bet-like-a-problem-gambler-draftkings-made-me-a-vip",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ProPublica",
    "slug": "propublica",
    "url": "https://www.propublica.org/article/draftkings-sports-gambling-problem-vip-fanduel"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Late May saw Claire Liu and Maria Sakkari in the French Open, sparking my DraftKings gambling frenzy. The app's \"BET & GET\" promotion lured me in, despite my usual $40 bets. I escalated quickly, losing $4,500 in a day and accruing $12,500 in total debts. DraftKings flagged my behavior, urging me to pause and set limits. However, within minutes, promotional alerts resumed, tempting me further. This tension between risk and regulation forms a central debate over online gambling's impact and consumer protection. With over $600 billion wagered in the U.S. since 2018, the growth has sparked concerns in states like Colorado and Massachusetts, prompting calls for stricter safeguards. Despite assurances from DraftKings' responsible gaming officer, Lori Kalani, that their systems curtail excessive behavior, I set out to test their limits. By adopting the tactics of a \"degen\" gambler, I aimed to reveal how far these companies would push their customers. The NBA playoffs served as my testing ground, and as my losses mounted, DraftKings offered minimal resistance.",
  "summary": "The post I Deliberately Bet Like a Problem Gambler. DraftKings Made Me a VIP. appeared first on ProPublica .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}