ProPublica reporter spent more than $20,000 testing whether online sportsbooks stop problem gamblers during NBA playoffs
ProPublica reporter Jake Pearson conducted a 10-week experiment during the 2026 NBA playoffs, wagering more than $20,000 from the newsroom's budget while deliberately mimicking problem gambling patterns to test the responsible gaming safeguards built into DraftKings and FanDuel. The investigation documents how major online sportsbooks respond—or fail to respond—when users display clear signs of compulsive betting behavior.
✓ Verified
- ✓ProPublica reporter Jake Pearson conducted a 10-week betting experiment during NBA playoffs in spring 2026. (ProPublica)
- ✓The experiment involved over $20,000 in funding from ProPublica, with the reporter wagering $10,000 during the test. (ProPublica)
- ✓The investigation examined responsible gaming guardrails at online sportsbooks including DraftKings and FanDuel. (ProPublica)
- ✓18 mainstream media articles have covered this story. (Sourcing metadata)
~ Interpretation
- ~DraftKings and FanDuel ads have become ubiquitous. (ProPublica characterization)
- ~The darker side of the online sportsbook business is becoming harder to ignore. (ProPublica framing of industry concerns)
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