This week, ESPN published a lengthy feature telling the story of a 20-year-old who developed a debilitating gambling addiction while at college to highlight the potential risks that young people face regarding sports gambling. While the article itself was well written, ESPN has drawn some harsh criticism for the overall optics.
Given that ESPN openly promotes gambling and has a partnership with DraftKings, critics have spoken out against ESPN for publishing an article detailing the damages that a gambling addiction can cause.
ESPN’s Gambling Addiction Article
The article, which was written by Elizabeth Merrill and David Purdum, tells the story of a 20-year-old college student falling into a gambling addiction. In addition to telling the specific story about the individual, it also highlighted concerning statistics about young people and gambling and included some relevant expert commentary.
There was no issue with the article itself. It was, however, a bit ironic that it was published on ESPN.
Over the past few years, ESPN has gone all-in on sports gambling, even making an unsuccessful attempt to launch a sportsbook of its own. Today, ESPN has a partnership with DraftKings, which has exclusive rights to serve as the sports network’s official sportsbook and odds provider. DraftKings odds are now featured throughout ESPN’s network, app, and website, with users even able to access the sportsbook directly through the ESPN App.
Across the ESPN family of networks, gambling-related commentary and analysis have become nearly impossible to avoid, whether it’s analysts making picks against the spread or betting lines appearing alongside virtually every game during pregame coverage.
‘A bit too on the nose’
Needless to say, the optics and the apparent hypocrisy quickly sparked outrage from the sports community.
“After you read this harrowing article on ESPN you can click one of the other tabs up there at the top to get today’s top odds or flip through a Beginner’s Betting Guide to learn how you too can get in on the action!” wrote Emmy-winning television writer and producer Michael Schur.
“The gambling addict requested no betting ads be placed in this story. However at the top, you’ll notice ESPN’s betting odds and a beginner’s guide to gambling,” wrote Joe Kinsey of OutKick.
“Brought to you by ESPN sponsored by DraftKings live from the FanDuel studio,” wrote Dan Alexander of WagerTalk.
“I’m very grateful they adhered to his request (and Dave wrote a GREAT piece), but having to specify ‘please don’t put an ad for the thing that ruined my life in the story about me’ kind of sums up why the relationship b/w sports media and betting is problematic,” wrote Jessica Welman of Fairer Gambling.
“This is a really good and important read. However, the immediate next article being about college football betting storylines, by the same author no less (who I am also quoting, hi David sorry to put you on blast like this), is just a bit too on the nose ESPN,” wrote Jack Linnehan of 9News.
Needless to say, ESPN took a lot of heat for this one.
About Kevin Harrish