this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2026
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279
DraftKings Allegedly Used AI to Target Bonus Bets at Customers Expected to Lose the Most (www.gadgetreview.com)
submitted 2 days ago by FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
29 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

The model examined play frequency, account balances, loss-to-wager ratios, and a separate estimate of whether a user was likely to stop gambling altogether, according to the Times. A higher score meant a customer was predicted to generate more revenue per promotional dollar spent.

Jayden Butts, a former DraftKings data analyst, described the underlying logic to the Times: “We are looking for traits and features that we can target that indicate a good investment.”

The best investment would be a problem gambler. (According to Jayden Butts, former DraftKings data analyst, to The New York Times)

DraftKings executives said data science and analytics improved promotion-driven sportsbook margins by 13% in 2025, and that AI helped personalize hundreds of millions of dollars in promotional spending, according to the Times.

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[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 86 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I don't think this is going to come as a surprise to any of the board regulars, but given the massive ad spend and the cultural push for people to normalize gambling as part of the gameday experience, it's important to remember that these companies are bad actors and you shouldn't gamble with your money.

Put it in your retirement instead.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 30 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (4 children)

Just read an article that explains that people are gambling because working no longer even pays the bills.

If they had money to put into retirement, they would; they are gambling because they don´t and know they never will.

Draft Kings is offering them better odds than life is.

[–] DarkroomDoc@lemmy.world 27 points 2 days ago (4 children)

I assume you’re being hyperbolic. There’s no world where gambling is more likely to pay the bills than working, even if the value proposition of working is so bad right now. Gambling is always worse.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 34 points 2 days ago

Factually? You're right. The problem is, "work isn't paying the bills anymore" is also true for a lot of people. So they're looking for any solution they can. I'm not saying this is a good solution. I'm just saying it's all they have.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 24 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

It's the world where you have a one-in-a-million chance to win the lottery but exactly a zero percent chance to retire while working full time but still accumulating credit card and medical debt and barely making rent every month.

[–] Triumph@fedia.io 13 points 2 days ago

The one thing that gambling offers is a fleeting feeling of hope.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 5 points 2 days ago

yeah over a group. The thing is the investment definately will not meet needs. I have been doing the math on my retirement for many decades and it did not work out even when times are good and now its worse. Gambling has a non zero chance of meeting all needs if the pot is big enough. I get why people get desperate. Heck I used to buy a lottery ticket here and there back when it was a relatively paltry amount relative to my income.

[–] ch00f@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Link?

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)
[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 2 points 2 days ago

No offense, but the article is speculation which doesn't address issues like increasing availability of gambling and its increasing gameification.

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Sadly, for much of the US, this is a fact. The cost of living has just gotten that bad, and neither ruling party shows any real intention to change it. (As evidenced by the last six years.)

Maybe the post should say instead: "If you have the money to gamble, put it in your retirement instead."

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 days ago

I'm not one to pass up on shitting on my home country, but it looks like the despair is happening around the world, though it manifests differently

[–] Triumph@fedia.io 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Retirement savings is a gamble anymore.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

Wait until the AI bubble pops...

[–] greatwhitebuffalo41@slrpnk.net 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You know how I gamble? Once every 5-10 years I'll put $100 in a slot machine. I play until I'm broke or at $500. Then I walk away.

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I've gone to Vegas a couple of times. I usually go during football season and bet MNF, and that's it. If I win, I get well-lubricated and the casino gets their money anyway.

If I don't, I buy a show ticket and go enjoy that.

Gambling's just a waste, really.

[–] greatwhitebuffalo41@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 days ago

That's the way to do it

[–] bitjunkie@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago

Don't give sportsbook execs your money, give it to Wall Street execs instead

[–] mrnngglry@sh.itjust.works 54 points 2 days ago (2 children)

This and prediction markets need to go.

[–] jacksilver@lemmy.world 42 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Prediction markets are just "sparkling" insider trading.

[–] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It's also a gold mine for intelligence. There's already been cases where people of placed bets on classified information

[–] TechnicallyWrite@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Just need to set up more troll accounts on WoTanks to farm that intel

[–] dogdeanafternoon@lemmy.ca 9 points 2 days ago

Prediction markets are a shit show. 100% shouldn’t be allowed to exist.

I’m not against sports betting/casino gambling, but I really wish there would be some regulation.

The algorithm should detect problem gamblers and ban them, or have forced cooldowns, not encourage them to spend more.

[–] Kirp123@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago (2 children)

That guy really is named Jayden Butts? And he's a data anal-yst. Hahah

[–] rockSlayer@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 2 days ago

Another brilliant character from Kojima!

[–] abbadon420@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago

You can't make this shit up

[–] SoupBrick@pawb.social 12 points 2 days ago

AI is not only stealing jobs from traditional artists, but also scam artists!

[–] Euphoma@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 days ago

The house uses statistics to win every gamble

This is not new

[–] jankforlife@lemmy.ml -1 points 2 days ago

Just another day ending in y for this capitalist hellscape LMBO