Rush Street Interactive (RSI) released a statement from CEO Richard Schwartz about the localized customer surcharges being implemented in some states.
The operator, which owns brands including BetRivers, PlaySugarhouse and RushBet, has confirmed that RSI will not be charging customers any surcharges.
“We put our customers first, so this was an easy decision for us to make,” Schwartz said.
The move comes after DraftKings released second-quarter results and a conference call where it discussed plans to levy surcharges on customers in Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. This is due to the higher Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) rates in these states and will be integrated into the bet slip and will only apply to winning bets.
During the conference call, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins and CFO Alan Ellingson said "players will appreciate the transparency" as surcharges are added to their bet slips .
DraftKings shares fell about 11% on the results, to their lowest level since October 2023.
Conversely, RSI stock had a good last week. However, RSI shares are down 14.5% today.
Schwartz continued: “RSI remains committed to maintaining its leadership position in the industry by continually prioritizing the needs and preferences of its players.
"We believe RSI's focus on customer satisfaction, coupled with its innovative rewards and loyalty programs, sets the standard for excellence in the online gaming industry."
RSI offers online and retail sports betting in Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania, as well as several other states, and is also expanding into Latin American markets, which DraftKings is currently not interested in.
