DraftKings Recognized by the National Council on Problem Gambling With Three Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility, Responsible Gaming and Advocacy Efforts

On July 22, 2022, DraftKings was recognized by the National Council on Problem Gambling with three awards: the Corporate Social Responsibility program award, the Don Feeney Award for Responsible Gambling Excellence to Chrissy Thurmond, Senior Director, Responsible Gaming, and the Don Huley Award for Advocacy to Julie Hynes, Senior Manager, Responsible Gaming.

• The Corporate Social Responsibility program award is given to an organization that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to social responsibility as it relates to responsible gaming in the past year. DraftKings’ Service, Equity, Responsibility, Vitality, Entrepreneurship and Sports (S.E.R.V.E.S.) program is a catalyst that facilitates corporate social responsibility and is designed to further DraftKings’ commitment to creating inclusive and responsible pathways for people to build, create, imagine, and innovate. DraftKings strives to be the gold standard for responsible gaming among gaming operators, and its focus is to foster safer play through technology, staff training, education and resources for consumers, collaboration with stakeholders including through the DraftKings State Council Funding Program, and through the support of evidence-based research.
• The Don Feeney Award for Responsible Gambling Excellence, awarded to Chrissy Thurmond, is given to an individual who has done exceptional work in responsible gaming in the past year, and is reserved for leaders that embody the spirit of Don Feeney, Director, Minnesota Lottery, who is widely recognized as a pioneer in taking down the wall between the gaming industry and those in the treatment and advocacy arena. Chrissy, who joined DraftKings in February 2020, began her career in responsible gaming at the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Division on Addiction.
• The Don Huley Award for Advocacy, awarded to Julie Hynes, recognizes an individual for his or her dedication to improving the lives of individuals and their families through advocacy, training, or the promotion of public awareness. Julie, who heads the responsible gaming employee training program at DraftKings, previously was Executive Director at the Oregon Council on Problem Gambling.

“For 50 years, the Council has served as a premier advocacy organization in the field of responsible gaming, bridging the work of practitioners, researchers, advocates, and industry professionals like myself. I’m humbled and honored to be the first recipient of the Don Feeney Award for Responsible Gambling Excellence, and I look forward to carrying the mantle Don set for collaboration among operators and advocates at the Council to move our responsible gaming efforts forward,” said Chrissy Thurmond, Senior Director, Responsible Gaming, DraftKings.

“I joined the DraftKings Responsible Gaming team last year to continue my career in the field, and I’m grateful to work with many talented individuals across DraftKings to develop our safer play initiatives. I’m also thankful for the Council for the leadership and resources they provide. I’m honored to be this year’s recipient of the Don Huley Award for Advocacy,” said Julie Hynes, Senior Responsible Gaming Manager, DraftKings.

To learn more about DraftKings’ corporate social responsibility and responsible gaming efforts, visit the DraftKings S.E.R.V.E.S. web page.