Civil rights leader Sharpton issues warns the FTC about two gambling giants

Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton has written a letter to the Federal Trade Commission about what he called a “gambling duopoly” of DraftKings and FanDuel that could disproportionately impact Black Americans, including Black athletes.

In the letter, obtained by USA Today Sports, Sharpton writes to FTC Chair Lina Khan that the domination of the two gambling platforms threatens consumer protection in the market.

“As you are well aware, DraftKings and FanDuel dominate the online sports betting market in the United States,” Sharpton wrote. “As of September 2023, they had a combined market share of approximately 75% in mobile sports betting. Their Sports Betting Alliance (SBA), which includes fellow legacy operators BetMGM and Fanatics Sportsbook, likely controls close to 90% of the market now.”