![\"DraftKings](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-30-at-12.16.47\u202fPM.jpg\")
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins thinks parents should maintain \u201ctransparent\u201d relationships with their children, where no topic is off limits. That includes discussing gambling and sports betting. (Image: CNBC)<\/p>\nDraftKings 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.<\/p>\n
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins thinks parents should maintain \u201ctransparent\u201d relationships with their children, where no topic is off limits. That includes discussing gambling and sports betting. (Image: CNBC)<\/p>\n
Appearing this week on CNBC<\/a> with gaming reporter Contessa Brewer, Robins discussed how raising children in a culture where gambling is prevalent presents new challenges for parents. It\u2019s his belief that keeping lines of communication open between parents and their kids is key in preventing underage gambling.<\/p>\n I think [gambling] is something every parent should have conversations with their kids about,\u201d Robins said.<\/p>\n According to the DraftKings executive, family conversations surrounding gambling should be normalized at home, comparable to discussions regarding alcohol and sex.<\/p>\n \u201cI talk to them about everything,\u201d Robins said of his relationship with his children. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Youth Gambling on the Rise<\/p>\n The expansion of legal sports betting and its widespread endorsement by professional and collegiate leagues have driven a surge in gambling among younger adults. Coupled with sports prediction markets <\/a>that permit individuals 18 and older to wager, concerns over youth problem gambling continue to intensify.<\/p>\n DraftKings maintains a footprint across the country, leveraging products like DraftKings Predictions<\/a> in select markets. Because prediction markets<\/a> operate under federal financial frameworks rather than standard state gaming commissions, operators face a complex regulatory landscape as federal courts and state regulators continue to litigate local enforcement powers.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>. Of those teens who gambled, almost 40% demonstrated some level of problem gambling, and 10.3% met the clinical definition of \u201chigh-risk problem gambling.\u201d<\/p>\n Criticism & Industry Pushback<\/p>\n Despite promoting responsible gaming education, Robins and DraftKings continue to face sharp public criticism over youth marketing exposure.<\/p>\n Personal finance personality Dave Ramsey<\/a> has repeatedly targeted online sportsbook and prediction market operators, asserting that DraftKings prioritizes corporate revenue over player protection.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re screwing an entire generation of young men. That\u2019s why they can afford to buy all of these ads,\u201d Ramsey charged during a broadcast earlier this year.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> practices.<\/p>\n The Gambling Talk<\/p>\n