FanDuel Details Problem Gambling Detection As Lawmakers Press Operator

FanDuel has disclosed that it carried out 58,000 manual responsible gaming reviews over the past year, according to reporting by Legal Sports Report, as the operator sets out publicly how it identifies customers at risk of gambling harm.

The disclosure follows a September letter to FanDuel from Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Representative Paul Tonko of New York and Representative Valerie Foushee of North Carolina, who said they were "unconvinced" the operator was making an active effort to protect bettors and demanded what they called "real answers" about its consumer protections and VIP programme.

FanDuel's new "Fast Facts" page outlines how it flags problem play, its safeguards against underage gambling, and statistics on customer spending. It does not address the VIP programme that lawmakers specifically asked about.

On detection, FanDuel says it relies on machine learning and risk scoring to monitor behavioural patterns. The company said it tracks "unusual deposits, excessive time on site, chasing losses, and concerning customer service interactions."

Flagged accounts are then reviewed manually by a trained team using set criteria to assess whether a customer is at risk. Depending on the outcome, FanDuel says it may provide responsible gambling education, impose account limits, or exclude the customer entirely. At-risk customers can also be connected to mental health support through partners including Kindbridge Behavioral Services.

The page echoes an earlier explanation given in August by Cory Fox, who holds the title of senior vice president of public policy and sustainability at FanDuel, in his response to Blumenthal, Tonko and Foushee. Fox pointed to self-service tools such as deposit alerts, wager limits, loss limits and time limits.

Fox told the lawmakers that beyond those tools, FanDuel's "Responsible Gaming team proactively monitors a wide range of behavioral indicators across the platform, including deposit and withdrawal history, increases in wager size, canceled withdrawals, and statements customers make through our in-app chat that suggest distress or a gambling problem."

He added that when risk is identified, the company responds with measures ranging "from educational outreach to a mandatory limit, to a temporary suspension, to permanent exclusion." Fox said customers who acknowledge having a gambling problem are barred for good from all FanDuel products, and that the company does not try to win them back.

On spending patterns, FanDuel cited a 2025 NerdWallet study putting the median sports bettor's monthly gambling spend at around $63, which the operator contrasted with the $329 average Americans spend dining out each month, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.

A separate study in the Journal of Financial Literacy and Wellbeing put the proportion of bettors who wager once a month or less at 84%, with about 9% betting weekly, a further 5% betting multiple times a week and 2% betting every day. FanDuel said it sees similar patterns internally, with the average Same Game Parlay wager around $14, 90% of such parlays at $30 or less, and 60% at $5 or less. The average sportsbook user, the company said, deposits less than once a week.

The scrutiny of behavioural monitoring tools extends beyond FanDuel. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is separately reviewing how every operator licensed in the state uses artificial intelligence and machine learning, particularly in targeting promotions to customers.

FanDuel also compared its account sign-up process to opening a bank account, requiring new customers to supply their name, date of birth and Social Security number before completing what it called a thorough identity verification process. The operator said it operates a zero-tolerance policy on underage or proxy betting, closing affected accounts immediately and reporting cases to law enforcement or regulators where required.