DraftKings has published its 2021 Sustainability Report, offering an insight into the sports betting environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives.
Commenting on the report, Jason Robins, co-founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board, noted that 2021 was a “big year” for the business and its commitment to ESG goals.
DraftKings specified the following key issues in its Sustainability Report: Responsible Gaming; People and Community; Inclusion, Equity and Belonging; Employee Involvement, Welfare and Development; Community Engagement and DraftKings S.E.R.V.E.S.; Environmental management; Cyber Security and Data Privacy; and Risk Management and Business Compliance.
The company has collected insights from its shareholders, employees and special advisers to the Board and CEO for its report, as well as assessments from ESG rating agencies and guidance from ESG frameworks such as the Sustainable Accounting Standards Council Standards and the Task Force on Disclosures. Climate related finance.
“2021 was a great year for DraftKings as a business and the achievements we have achieved have been underpinned by our continued commitment to environmental, social and governance initiatives,” commented Robins.
“Our long-term success is underpinned by our attention to all our stakeholders, including our employees, customers, shareholders and the communities we are a part of around the world.”
“We recognize that our ESG journey is one of constant evolution and we remain focused on advancing these areas on an ongoing basis,” added Robins.
DraftKings’ key sustainability actions
Some of the work highlighted in DraftKings’ 2021 Sustainability Report includes its environmental sustainability efforts; support initiatives that further your S.E.R.V.E.S. to create inclusive and responsible ways for people to build, create, imagine and innovate; and more investment in evidence-based research on responsible gaming.
For environmental sustainability, the company funded the planting of 1 million trees in coordination with the Arbor Day Foundation, with tree plantations in the US estimated to contribute more than 667,000 metric tons of carbon.
DraftKings has donated nearly $4 million to local, national and international charities; provided high-tech training to more than 200 military veterans through its Tech for Heroes program; and raised funds for natural disaster relief efforts and breast cancer research.
Some of the research projects that have received funding as part of the responsible gaming investment include: the International Center for Responsible Gaming’s inaugural survey of US sports betting; the Kindbridge Research Institute’s seminal research initiative; the 50×4 Vets Project (which studies military veterans impacted by problematic games); and the US state and affiliated problem gambling councils of the National Council on Problem Gambling.
