DraftKings CEO Jason Robins urges parents to talk to their kids about gambling

DraftKings co-founder and CEO Jason Robins thinks parents share the responsibility of keeping children away from gambling, alongside the broader gaming industry and his $10 billion company. Appearing this week on CNBC with gaming reporter Contessa Brewer, Robins discussed how raising children in a culture where gambling is prevalent presents new challenges for parents.

“I think [gambling] is something every parent should have conversations with their kids about,” Robins said. According to Robins, family conversations surrounding gambling should be normalized at home, comparable to discussions regarding alcohol and sex. “I think the important thing is to have a transparent relationship with your kids where they feel like they can ask you anything and you can have an open conversation,” he said.

This week, the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University suggested that almost 43% of U.S. adolescents aged 13 to 17 gambled over the past year. Of those teens who gambled, almost 40% demonstrated some level of problem gambling, and 10.3% met the clinical definition of “high-risk problem gambling.” Sports prediction markets permit individuals 18 and older to wager, and concerns over youth problem gambling continue to intensify. DraftKings offers products like DraftKings Predictions in select markets.

Robins and DraftKings continue to face public criticism over youth marketing exposure. Personal finance personality Dave Ramsey has repeatedly targeted online sportsbook and prediction market operators, asserting that DraftKings prioritizes corporate revenue over player protection. DraftKings and its primary rival, FanDuel, are also the subject of several federal, state, and city lawsuits on allegations that the companies have engaged in deceptive marketing practices.

After commissioning a poll that found only about half of parents are talking about gambling with their teens, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) said it would develop educational tools and materials to guide parents through the conversation. NCPG Board Chair Derek Longmeier said the council is hearing from parents who want to better understand the risks and are asking for practical resources to help them have these conversations with their kids.