

DraftKings
Jamie Shea Urges United States Betting Brands to Embrace Player Education
Strive Gaming Chief Marketing Officer tells Xtremepush podcast Experts in the Room in-play betting has the potential to take off as it has in Europe
Sportsbooks in the United States must focus on educating bettors about the availability and benefits of in-play betting for a profitable future, according to Strive Gaming’s Chief Marketing Officer, Jamie Shea (pictured).
Speaking as a guest on a forthcoming edition of Xtremepush’s podcast series Experts in the Room, the industry leader and former VP of Sportsbook at DraftKings stressed that live betting has so far only reached a fraction of its potential in the country.
That’s despite it being more than five years since the first legal online bets in the United States outside of Nevada were placed with DraftKings in New Jersey.
Also key to profitability is a concerted push to retain expensively acquired players, Shea argues, with increased personalisation favored above expensive blanket bonusing.
“The education of the player is the best retention tool as it teaches them how to play,” said Shea, speaking to Xtremepush’s New Business Account Executive and podcast host, Will Hansen. “A lot of the time, customers just don’t even realize that certain bets exist. One of the things that’s driving me crazy right now in the United States industry is in-play. Why is that not bigger? Seventy per cent of bets should be in-play, as they are in Europe, because it’s fun and provides instant gratification.
“I would love to see that happen in the United States. We need to educate the players on how it works and where they can find it in an app and that’s where push notifications come in. Brands should be doing all they can to let the customer know that hey, there is this wager available and it’s a lot of fun. Every time that I’ve sat down with people and taught them how it works, they love it and it becomes their go-to.”
Shea also stressed that United States operators’ acquisition budgets need to be more in line with player lifetime values, a trend which is already in motion.
“After the first bet on August 1st, 2018, in New Jersey, it was a free-for-all,” she added. “Nobody knew what should be done or how it should be done, just that they wanted as many active customers as possible. And so it was a bonus here, a bonus there.
“Unfortunately, as everybody came to realize, this set the customer up with an expectation that isn’t realistic, because those offers can’t last forever. It also created a lot of promiscuity within the different brands through ‘promo hunters’ and it started to become a race to the bottom. Nobody was profitable.
“Having Strive Gaming and Xtremepush in the United States market allows for so much more targeted marketing, so that bonuses aren’t just thrown at everyone. It allows us to look at what resonates with certain player types as a targeted and measured approach.”
In line with the data-led approach to personalized offerings, Shea also stressed that detecting problematic player behavior is of paramount importance for United States-focused platform provider Strive Gaming.
“For me, it’s a very personal topic,” she said. “I grew up with my dad losing his business and that’s because gaming was not regulated. Nobody was texting him and asking him how he was doing back in 1984. One of the great things about having all of this data available is you can look to see, has someone changed their behavior dramatically?
“I’m very cognizant of player interactions with us. Our customer service team is extremely well-trained to notice when certain trigger words, for example, suggest a person might be having a problem. We can’t be their therapist. We can’t know everything they are thinking. But what we can do is provide the right tools to enable people to keep enjoying sports betting and iGaming, in a very responsible manner that isn’t going to affect their lives.”
Delaware North
Playtech Expands U.S. Footprint into Fourth Regulated iGaming State with Launch in West Virginia

Playtech announced its entry into West Virginia, its fourth regulated iGaming state, marking a significant milestone in the company’s U.S. growth trajectory. This expansion underscores Playtech’s commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality entertainment and cutting-edge technology to both partners and players across the U.S. market.
Playtech has expanded its operations in West Virginia, partnering with multiple operators to deliver its award-winning Casino, RNG, and Live content. RSI, Delaware North, DraftKings, and BetMGM are among the latest operators to join Playtech’s expansion in the state. This growth will continue in the coming months with a variety of other operators.
Jonathan Doubilet, VP of U.S. Business Operations at Playtech, said: “Our expansion into this regulated iGaming state reflects our strong strategic focus on delivering engaging, innovative, and responsible entertainment to players, while supporting our partners with the latest in gaming technology. Supporting our customers across all regulated states and countries in which they operate is at the heart of what we do. The trust and confidence they place in us as an agile and scalable partner is what helps in meeting the demands of the ever-expanding US iGaming industry.”
The post Playtech Expands U.S. Footprint into Fourth Regulated iGaming State with Launch in West Virginia appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
DraftKings
DraftKings Launches “My Budget Builder” to Enhance Its Responsible Gaming Tools and Resources

DraftKings Inc. announced the launch of My Budget Builder, a new Responsible Gaming (RG) tool that players can use to set customized limits and reminders through a guided, easy-to-use experience. My Budget Builder is a tool that players can use to help manage their entertainment budgets across DraftKings platforms, including Sportsbook, Daily Fantasy Sports/Pick6, and Casino.
“My Budget Builder is a new kind of Responsible Gaming tool—intuitive, proactive, and personalized,” said Lori Kalani, Chief Responsible Gaming Officer at DraftKings. “It reflects our ongoing commitment to creating fun, enjoyable environments for our players. By enhancing how players engage with limit-setting, we are providing another resource that players can use to help them play responsibly.”
Players can access My Budget Builder via the DraftKings Responsible Gaming Center online or through the DraftKings app. The experience guides players through several categories where they can create a personalized gaming budget around deposit amount, total wagers, maximum wager size, loss limits, time spent, contest entries, and contest fees. Players will also have the option of setting either limits or reminders through My Budget Builder. After reviewing a summary of their choices, players can confirm and apply their limits or reminders for a specified duration (e.g., day, week, or month), creating a personalized budget as they see fit. Limits can be decreased at any time but cannot be increased until the selected time period expires.
The introduction of My Budget Builder further strengthens DraftKings’ Responsible Gaming commitment, which centers on accessibility, education, and innovation. It complements DraftKings’ My Stat Sheet, an industry-first feature launched in 2024 that provides players with a detailed view of their gaming activity, including time spent, deposits, withdrawals, contest participation, and net outcomes. My Stat Sheet has seen more than 20 million visits since its debut.
With the addition of My Budget Builder, DraftKings continues to lead the industry in developing meaningful, player-first Responsible Gaming tools that promote responsible play and informed decision-making.
The post DraftKings Launches “My Budget Builder” to Enhance Its Responsible Gaming Tools and Resources appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Charlie McIntyre
NH Players Wager $20M on March Madness

New Hampshire Lottery enthusiasts wagered over $20 million on the NCAA basketball tournaments, experiencing a more than 10% increase in wagering from the previous year. Florida secured the men’s championship, while UConn emerged victorious on the women’s side.
Charlie McIntyre, Executive Director of New Hampshire Lottery, said: “What an incredible month of college hoops! We love seeing our players getting in on the sports betting action! Sports betting just adds a little extra excitement to the sports viewing experience, especially during March Madness when there are dozens of games throughout the month—not to mention an expanding variety of ways to bet.”
McIntyre highlighted March Madness as a significant period for sports betting, contributing notably to funding New Hampshire’s public education. Alongside the excitement of March Madness, anticipation is building for the NHL and NBA Playoffs.
During the pre-tournament phase, local gamblers heavily backed Duke for the men’s category and strongly supported UConn for the women’s, with UConn delivering a favorable outcome. Conversely, Florida’s triumph in the men’s championship surprised many, as only 15% had initially placed their hopes on the team. However, by the championship game against Houston, two-thirds of bettors picked Florida, redeeming many bracket predictions.
Since its inception on December 30, 2019, mobile sports betting in New Hampshire has generated over $3.5 billion, benefiting public education by more than $140 million. Residents can place bets via the DraftKings Sportsbook app, available on iOS and Android, or online at Sportsbook.DraftKings.com. Responsible gaming is emphasized, with tools like My Stats Sheet, limit setting, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion options available on the app.
The post NH Players Wager $20M on March Madness appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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