FanDuel Rolls Out Science-Based Responsible Gaming Controls
FanDuel has launched Play With a Plan, a responsible gaming initiative that uses behavioral research to encourage customers to set personal limits and manage their betting activity.
The program moves away from restrictive warnings in favor of tools that position planning as a normal habit for all users.
The initiative is available across FanDuel Sportsbook, FanDuel Casino, and its racing products. It is designed to help players make informed decisions through proactive self-management rather than crisis intervention.
Leveraging Machine Learning to Provide Real-Time Feedback
The program includes four primary tools available through FanDuel’s app and website. The operator said the tools are designed to adapt to customer preferences rather than force a one-size-fits-all approach.
The My Spend dashboard tracks deposit and betting amounts across multiple timeframes: weekly, monthly, and quarterly.
To enforce boundaries, customers can use Loss Limits to cap risk amounts across their chosen periods. The system blocks wagers once customers hit the maximum thresholds they have set.
Deposit Alerts send automated notifications when customers approach their established budget limits.
The newest addition is Real-Time Check-In, which went live in 2025. It applies machine learning to spending data and provides feedback during active betting sessions.
The tool creates baseline spending patterns for each user and prompts action during moments of impulsive behavior. It delivers proactive safeguards and detailed information to support informed spending decisions across all FanDuel products.
Customers can enable, disable, or modify any tool as needed. The company said research showed players respond more positively to responsible gaming tools presented as planning resources rather than warnings.
FanDuel likened the approach to budgeting for entertainment, positioning controls as habits instead of interventions.
The initiative seeks to make planning and self-assessment routine behaviors across the user base. FanDuel wants to restore player autonomy in decision-making while emphasizing what customers can do rather than imposing restrictions.
FanDuel deploys machine learning to establish baseline spending patterns for each user.
Cory Fox, FanDuel’s SVP of Public Policy and Sustainability, explained the development process.
This refreshed platform was purposeful and reflects the research we’ve done to rethink how Responsible Gaming is communicated most effectively to consumers.
He said the firm studied resistance to safety messaging, and the findings revealed players prefer making informed choices without condescension.
Fox also indicated the modified strategy shows promise. Engagement increases when interfaces present data analysis rather than disciplinary warnings, he said.
Usage Data Shows Year-Over-Year Growth
The program arrives as FanDuel reports a 41% year-over-year increase in responsible gaming tool usage. The operator said almost half of active players used those tools in 2024, the highest participation rate in company history.
The firm has extended its responsible gaming work beyond app functionality to include educational programming and industry partnerships. Keith Whyte serves as a strategic advisor on these efforts.
FanDuel also produces content addressing gambling behavior through multiple channels.
“The Comeback” on FanDuel TV features responsible gaming ambassador Craig Carton, while “Trusted Voices” includes former NBA player Randy Livingston and his wife Anita Smith discussing addiction and recovery to reduce stigma.
