DraftKings Announces First Chief Responsible Gaming Officer

The importance of responsible gaming has been elevated to the “C-suite” level. DraftKings announced today that Lori Kalani has been named its Chief Responsible Gaming Officer.

DraftKings is believed to be the first sportsbook to add a top management post specifically assigned to oversee responsible gaming. This decision comes less than a month after DraftKings reported unusual betting activity surrounding NBA player Jontay Porter, who has since been banned from the league. It’s not known whether Porter has a gambling addiction, but the issue of problem gambling with sports betting has been prominent in 2024.

According to a press release announcing the Kalani hiring, she will be “committed to the continued elevation and integration of [DraftKings’] player safety and protection activities and initiatives across all facets of its platforms and player communities.”

Kalani Hiring Signals a Commitment to Problem Gambling From DraftKings

The DraftKings move to hire Kalani signals a commitment to problem gambling from one of the top sports betting operators. In most states, DraftKings is either the top or second-leading sportsbook by total handle. Sportsbooks have an incentive to ensure that wagering is an entertainment activity and not one that harms consumers or threatens the integrity of sports.

Since the United States Supreme Court repealed a law in 2018 that prohibited most states from sports betting, more than 35 states have legalized the activity. Sports leagues that once shunned gambling are now in lucrative deals with sportsbooks, broadcasts often include odds tickers and betting segments, and some sporting venues even have retail sportsbooks on-site. As a result, more emphasis has been placed on the potential pitfalls of increased legal gambling.

No widespread research has been completed on problem gambling in recent years, and there is no evidence yet that new regulated betting markets have caused an increase in the relative incidents of problem gambling.

Kalani earned a law degree from the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School in 2003 and a business degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas Lee Business School in 1994. She previously was a partner at the Cozen O’Connor law firm, where she served as co-chair of the State Attorneys General practice.

Kalani will report to DraftKings Chief Executive Officer Jason Robins, and according to the press statement, will “work alongside DraftKings’ Compliance team to further cultivate DraftKings’ dedication to best-in-class consumer safety and protection practices.”