Here are some FCC complaints about all those DraftKings ads
“I change the cable channel and no matter what I tune to, the gambling ads are there.’’
Won’t somebody think of the children?
That’s one of the common concerns in written complaints to the Federal Communications Commission about the massive advertising campaigns of daily fantasy sports companies, Boston-based DraftKings and New York-based FanDuel.
The two companies dominated advertising slots during sports programming, and especially NFL games, around the start of the 2015 football season. They have since found themselves facing heavy regulatory scrutiny over concerns about consumer safeguards and allegations that they are essentially gambling services.
The gambling comparison shone through in letters to the FCC from the public, obtained through an open records request.
“i am deeply disturbed by the sudden proliferation of gambling ads for the ilk of draft kings and fanduel on nationally relevised sports games,’’ read one complaint, as written to the FCC, sent from New Jersey. “as many young children watch these games i think that it is a deeply disturbing message that we are giving them- ads that promote gambling and the mentaility that you can get rich quick by betting on sports events.’’
A similar complaint came from Arizona:
“It is a responsibility of the Federal Government to protect us the citizens especially our children,’’ it said. “ESPN’s Sportscenter program has turned into a gambling and fantasy football information show.’’
And from New York:
“They continually try to protect themselves as not being gambling…..but it is and it is abhorrent that these are shown on networks regularly viewed by teenagers, especially boys.’’
And from Texas:
“We see, including children, a dozen online gambling commercials during a single college football game. … Do you really feel this is proper content for children or people with gambling issues to see on television?’’
Other complaints focused on the sheer frequency of the ads. DraftKings and FanDuel combined to spend more than $100 million on TV advertising in September.
“I cannot watch a TV program or app without being blanketed by ads for FanDuel, all day every day,’’ a New Yorker wrote in mid-October. “Please limit their air time or ban their ads outright, especially in light of their illegal activity.’’ (DraftKings and FanDuel say their contests are legal under federal and most state gambling laws.)
“I’m sick of being bombarded by ads for fantasy gambling by fan duel and draft kings on every show or news program I tune into,’’ wrote a California resident. “I change the cable channel and no matter what I tune to, the gambling ads are there. Enough is enough already.’’
Overall, the FCC said it logged about 20 relevant complaints since August.
DraftKings’s CEO has acknowledged that the big advertising push may have helped draw scrutiny from regulators. And FanDuel’s CEO has said the company may have frustrated viewers with the campaign. An analysis of social media sentiment suggested the volume of ads rubbed many sports fans the wrong way.
But DraftKings has said the campaign paid off, claiming it saw more than 10 times the customer count at the start of football season compared to the year before, according to The Boston Globe.
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