DraftKings to Refund Connecticut Players After Bonus Dispute

DraftKings has agreed to return about $3 million to roughly 7,000 players in Connecticut after a state-led investigation found issues with how certain bonus offers were advertised. The promotions in question ran between October 19, 2021 and January 4, 2023, and included offers that promised deposit matches or bonuses.

Good to know

• Around 7,000 players will receive refunds from DraftKings totaling nearly $3 million.
• The Connecticut DCP said many users did not understand or were never made aware of bonus conditions.
• DraftKings will now provide staff training and promote responsible gaming education.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) said the agreement followed a review of how DraftKings marketed its bonus offers, with a focus on transparency and clarity. Officials concluded that some customers either misunderstood the rules or never saw the conditions required to receive the bonuses.

Kris Gilman, who heads the DCP’s Gaming Division, said operators must lay out all requirements clearly when advertising promotions. “Gaming operators must clearly communicate the terms of any promotion to their customers, including requirements to wager a certain amount or other conditions to obtain a promised award,” Gilman said.

As part of the settlement, DraftKings will offer annual training to all Connecticut-based marketing and advertising employees to ensure they follow state laws. The operator also agreed to improve how it promotes its educational content and tutorials, especially around bonus offers.

In addition to refunding players, DraftKings will contribute $50,000 to help fund consumer protection programs, complaint resolution, and enforcement efforts.

DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli called the outcome a win for players and said:

“We are pleased with the outcome of this investigation and that affected consumers will be made whole. Thank you to our Gaming Division team, who work tirelessly on behalf of Connecticut consumers to ensure fairness and safety in our legal gaming marketplace.”

Connecticut legalized online sports betting in 2021, with DraftKings launching in the state as one of the licensed operators. Since then, regulators have been keeping a close eye on how operators engage with users, especially when it comes to advertising and promotions.