In this photo illustration, the logo of American daily fantasy sports contest and sports betting company DraftKings is displayed on a smartphone screen.
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sports gambling giant draft kings New York apologized Monday for offering a betting parlay that would pay out if three teams won on the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 Americans.
The majority of the deaths on 9/11 occurred inside the twin towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan and the two airliners that struck and destroyed them.
A blurb from DraftKings early Monday included a phrase often used in reference to the September 11th attacks: “Never forget.”
“We would like to sincerely apologize for the attention-grabbing parlay that was briefly shared in commemoration of 9/11.” DraftKings talked about Xthe social media site formerly known as Twitter.
“We respect the importance of this day to our country, especially to the families of those directly affected,” the company said in a statement.
If the New York Yankees, Mets and Jets could win on Monday, the parlay would have paid for itself.
The proposal sparked heavy criticism on social media before being withdrawn by the company.
“Absolute clown,” one X user wrote in response to DraftKing’s apology tweet.
Another user wrote: “Embarrassing.”
“No, you don’t respect the importance of the day and you don’t respect the humans you bet on sports with,” read another post.
“Using the national tragedy of 9/11 to promote business is shameful,” Brett Eagleson, whose father Bruce was killed at the trade center, told The Associated Press.
“What we need is accountability, justice and closure, not self-interest and shameless propaganda,” said Egelson, who runs the group 9/11 Justice.
Since the milestone, more than 30 states and the District of Columbia have launched legal gambling markets. 2018 U.S. Supreme Court Case This paves the way for any state to be able to offer legal sports betting.
According to Statista Market Insights, the market is expected to exceed $7.6 billion in 2023.
10 years ago, AT&T He deleted a tweet that showed a Tribute in Light image of a hand holding a cell phone. A Tribute in Light is two beams of light projected upward from lower Manhattan, marking the spot where the Twin Towers once stood. “Never forget,” the tweet read.
“We apologize to anyone who found our post in poor taste,” AT&T said in a subsequent tweet. “This image was intended solely to honor those affected by the tragedy of 9/11.”
— Additional reporting by CNBC Stephen Sykes
