DraftKings Apologizes for Insensitive 9/11 Promotion
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — In a regrettable move, sports betting company DraftKings issued an apology on Monday after using the September 11, 2001, terror attacks to promote their services. The Boston-based company had offered a 9/11-themed promotion that required three New York-based teams to win their games on the anniversary of the tragedy.
The promotion, titled “Never Forget,” faced severe backlash on social media, with many expressing their offense at the company’s insensitivity. DraftKings swiftly took down the promotion and issued an apology, acknowledging the significance of the day and expressing their respect for the families affected.
Brett Eagleson, who lost his father in the World Trade Center attacks, runs an organization called 9/11 Justice. He criticized DraftKings’ offer as “tone-deaf” and condemned the use of a national tragedy for business promotion.
DraftKings did not disclose the number of people who placed bets as a result of the promotion or whether those bets would be canceled. The company is one of the leading providers of legal sports betting in the U.S., which has seen significant growth since it was legalized in 2018.
While parlays, like the one offered by DraftKings, are profitable for sportsbooks, it is essential for companies to exercise sensitivity and avoid exploiting sensitive events for promotional purposes.
We hope that DraftKings has learned from this incident and will be more considerate in their future promotions.
