FanDuel Unveils AI Tool to Curb Impulsive Deposits

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — As the NBA and NHL playoffs spark dramatic comebacks and volatile betting swings, FanDuel has rolled out a new responsible gaming (RG) tool aimed at helping users pause before they reload their accounts. The technology, called Real-Time Check-In, leverages artificial intelligence to assess deposit behavior and nudge users toward more mindful spending.

Unveiled at the SBC Summit Americas this week, Real-Time Check-In is FanDuel’s latest response to mounting scrutiny over the social impacts of sports betting. The product applies machine learning to flag unusual deposit behavior, offering real-time prompts that encourage bettors to reconsider the amount of money they’re about to add to their accounts.

“We know a deposit is a key moment in the customer journey,” said Cory Fox, FanDuel’s senior vice president of public policy and sustainability. “Now, we’re able to use machine learning to provide a new level of support… encouraging customers to reflect on how much they’re depositing and if it’s within their budget.”

• AI-Powered Oversight: FanDuel's new Real-Time Check-In tool uses machine learning to monitor deposit behavior in real time and alert users when they deviate from typical spending patterns.

• User-Centered Safeguards: The tool encourages bettors to reflect on deposit amounts and offers options to set or lower limits, aiming to reduce impulsive reloads during high-stakes sports events.

• Industry and Regulatory Context: The launch comes as lawmakers push for federal and state-level deposit restrictions, with FanDuel positioning the tool as part of its broader responsible gaming strategy.

Designed for High-Stakes Moments

The launch comes at a time when playoff intensity has led to sharp market swings — and emotional betting reactions. Just last week, the New York Knicks erased two 20-point deficits against the defending champion Boston Celtics, and the Edmonton Oilers pulled off five straight comebacks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. These sudden momentum shifts often tempt bettors to chase losses, sometimes prompting rapid-fire deposits.

FanDuel’s new tool aims to intervene at this critical point in the betting cycle. By drawing on deposit and wagering data across its North American platforms, Real-Time Check-In estimates a user’s typical deposit behavior for any given day. The system then compares that baseline to actual activity and flags significant deviations.

AI Meets Affordability

Real-Time Check-In builds on the company’s earlier responsible gaming dashboard, My Spend, launched during the NFL regular season. That tool, now used by nearly 3.5 million customers, provides a snapshot of users’ betting and deposit activity. The new version adds predictive modeling to help steer users away from risky behavior in real time.

Jill Watkins, FanDuel’s senior commercial director of responsible gaming, said the machine learning models factor in seasonal betting patterns — for example, higher activity during NFL Sundays and lower volumes during the sports lull of midsummer.

If a user attempts a deposit far above their typical range, the system triggers an alert. The bettor can then review their spending, set or lower a deposit limit, or simply walk away.
Political Pressure and Industry Risk

The rollout comes amid increasing calls for regulation. U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko’s proposed SAFE Bet Act includes a provision that would bar sportsbooks from accepting more than five deposits per customer within 24 hours. A similar bill is being considered in the New York State Assembly.

While operators maintain that problem gamblers represent a small portion of their user base, Google searches for gambling addiction support have been rising. FanDuel’s Fox acknowledged the industry is under pressure to demonstrate it can self-regulate.

 

“Our social license is at stake,” Fox said. “Operators have to prove that their platforms are sustainable and safe.”

FanDuel developed Real-Time Check-In with input from Sportsbet, its Australian sister company under parent firm Flutter Entertainment. The technology needed to work instantaneously, delivering alerts the moment a deposit attempt is made — a challenging technical feat, according to Watkins. Early testing showed that many users opted to set deposit limits after receiving an alert.

Expansion Plans Ahead

The tool will be rolled out in every U.S. state where FanDuel offers online sports betting. The company also plans to extend the technology to its horse racing and daily fantasy platforms later this year.

While FanDuel’s latest move is unlikely to resolve the broader debate over gambling regulation, it marks a significant investment in responsible gaming infrastructure. As betting platforms face growing pressure from lawmakers and public health advocates alike, real-time interventions may offer a middle path between outright restrictions and unchecked access.