FanDuel recently launched an innovative responsible gambling tool—Real-Time Check-In, which uses artificial intelligence technology to help users manage their account funds more rationally. This move comes at a time when the US sports betting industry is facing increasingly strict regulatory scrutiny.
The core function of the system is to analyze users' personalized deposit behavior patterns through machine learning algorithms. When the system detects that the user's deposit amount or frequency deviates significantly from historical patterns, it will immediately issue a warning, reminding the user to reassess their betting budget. Cory Fox, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Sustainability at FanDuel, said: "Deposits are a key link in the user's betting journey. Our new technology can provide immediate guidance when users make deposit decisions."
Industry Background and Regulatory Pressure
The launch of this product coincides with a critical moment in the US sports betting industry. As New York State Congressman Paul Tonko's proposed "Safe Betting Act" includes deposit limits in the discussion, operators are facing increasing regulatory pressure. The bill suggests limiting users to no more than five deposit transactions within 24 hours.
Although operators emphasize that problem gamblers only make up a very small proportion of their user base, data shows that internet searches related to gambling addiction continue to rise. Fox warned that the industry's "social operating license" is at risk, and operators need to prove the safety of their platforms.
Technology Implementation and User Feedback
The system is developed based on the technology accumulated by Flutter, FanDuel's parent company, under its Australian brand Sportsbet. According to Jill Watkins, Senior Commercial Director of Responsible Gambling, the algorithm takes into account various factors, including:
The user's deposit and withdrawal history
Bonus usage
Sports event schedule (e.g., deposits are usually higher on NFL game days)
Early tests showed that a considerable proportion of users who received alerts proactively set deposit limits. This positive feedback prompted FanDuel to decide to promote the system to all operating states' sports betting businesses and plans to expand to horse racing and daily fantasy sports later this year.
Market Response and Future Plans
This release is a continuation of FanDuel's responsible gambling plan. Data from February this year showed that about 3.5 million users (half of its total user base) were already using its "My Spend" spending management platform. The launch of the Real-Time Deposit Monitoring System marks another important step in the company's user protection measures.
As industry regulation becomes stricter, such technological innovations not only help protect users but may also become an important tool for operators to address policy risks. FanDuel stated that it will continue to invest resources to improve its responsible gambling system.
