Craig Carton Isn’t Done Talking About Gambling
During one of the lowest points of his life, Craig Carton made himself a promise. If he ever got another opportunity behind a microphone, he would give it a greater purpose.
The longtime radio personality had spent years struggling with compulsive gambling, which eventually cost him his career and freedom. After serving time in federal prison, Carton got his second chance in broadcasting.
“I told myself that I would use my story and the platform I’d be given to try to help people avoid going down the same path as me,” said Carton.
Carton shared his story during “The Future of Sports Betting: Growth, Media & Responsibility” at this year’s National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in New York where he joined FanDuel President Christian Genetski, moderated by CNN tech reporter Clare Duffy.
Since 2021, Carton has served as a Responsible Gaming Ambassador for FanDuel, using his platform to raise awareness of the risks of problem gambling, available support resources, and how to use tools to keep play within budget and for entertainment purposes.
He hosts The Comeback with Craig Carton, a FanDuel web-series about the dangers of the illegal gambling market and removing the stigma around addiction.
Opening Conversations Around Betting
“A problem gambler like me is bad for FanDuel’s business,” Carton said during the NAB session.
His point is, FanDuel’s long-term success depends on customers having a sustainable relationship with gambling.
When a customer loses control of their gambling, it can lead to financial or personal harm and, in some cases, the need to stop playing altogether. That’s bad for the customer and ultimately bad for the operator, too.
“Sports betting belongs in the category of entertainment spend, and that’s how we frame it to customers,” added Genetski.
A healthy relationship is when customers treat betting like any other hobby. FanDuel’s role is to create an experience they can enjoy responsibly over the long term, with tools and safeguards available to help them stay within the limits they set for themselves.
“People like me, who recognize they now have a problem, have more resources in a regulated market,” said Carton.
Benefits of a Regulated Market
At FanDuel, customers can track their activity through My Spend, set limits on deposits, wagers or losses, and take time away from the platform.
“There may be a stigma around using Responsible Gaming tools,” said Genetski. “—but FanDuel continues to spend time, money, and energy to normalize using them.”
Carton has seen why these safeguards also need to extend across operators. Years ago, he voluntarily excluded himself from an online gambling operator, only to later receive a casino marketing letter acknowledging his self-exclusion while inviting him to gamble in person.
Today, regulated operators have more opportunities to close those gaps. Through the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), FanDuel and other regulated operators can collaborate on industry-wide standards and consumer protections that distinguish the regulated market from illegal gambling.
“I’ve experienced gambling from both sides,” said Carton. “For most of my life, it was something I did recreationally, but it reached a point where it cost me everything, including my freedom.”
Carton now brings that perspective to forums like NAB, alongside FanDuel, to help shape how the industry talks about responsible play and the protections that can make a difference.
Visit our Customer Commitment page to learn more about our responsible gaming and consumer protection efforts.
