DraftKings CEO Jason Robins believes parents should start talking to their children about gambling long before they reach the legal betting age. With sports betting widely available across the United States, Robins wants families to be more open about the risks rather than avoiding the subject. In an October 28 interview with CNBC, Robins discussed how he approaches gambling education at home.
Robins said his children have grown up around the sports betting industry and already understand terms such as point spreads and moneylines. They’ve even asked which teams are attracting the most money on DraftKings so they know who to cheer for.
Despite their familiarity with betting, Robins has made it clear that his children cannot participate until they’re 21. He compared discussing gambling to talking about alcohol, arguing that children should feel comfortable asking questions about potentially harmful activities.
His comments come as similar concerns emerge in Canada. A recent National Post investigation found that some Ontario parents were helping their teenage children access online betting accounts, sometimes by providing identification or creating accounts on their behalf.
In some cases, parents reportedly cut off access after becoming concerned about how frequently their children were gambling. The situation highlights a problem with age-verification systems: confirming that an account belongs to an adult doesn’t necessarily mean that person is the one placing bets.
This case reinforces Robins’ argument that educating parents is an important part of addressing underage gambling.
The concerns extend beyond underage betting, with new research showing an increase in gambling disorder diagnoses in states with legalized sports wagering.
According to a June 2026 study by Epic Research, diagnosis rates increased approximately 61% in states that legalized sports betting between 2018 and 2026. Meanwhile, rates declined 29% in states without legalized sports betting.
The study examined health records involving more than 197 million American adults. Researchers found that adults ages 18 to 29 experienced the largest proportional increase, with diagnosis rates more than doubling during that period.
Robins acknowledged that even a small percentage of customers experiencing gambling problems can represent a significant number of people, given the industry’s size.
DraftKings offers responsible gaming tools that allow customers to set account limits or voluntarily exclude themselves from gambling. Robins said the company also restricts certain accounts when betting behavior raises concerns.
He highlighted efforts by the Responsible Online Gaming Association to establish a nationwide self-exclusion system. The initiative aims to make it harder for excluded customers to move between participating operators, although privacy laws and differing state regulations remain obstacles.
While Robins emphasized the importance of parents educating their children, his comments also addressed the responsibility gambling companies have to protect customers.
It needs to be a collaborative effort: operators providing responsible gaming tools, initiatives to raise awareness about the risks of problem gambling, and even parents discussing risks with their children at home.
