During episode #2512 of the Joe Rogan Experience, Joey Diaz raised concerns about the rapid growth of legal sports gambling while sitting across from one of DraftKings’ most prominent media partners.
The conversation began with Rogan discussing a Knicks bet he had placed the previous night before turning the topic toward Diaz’s own betting habits.
“Do you bet sports all the time? How often you bet?” Rogan asked.
Diaz explained that basketball is his preferred sport to wager on during this time of year.
“This time of the year? I bet basketball because it’s real. There’s defense,” he said.
Rogan then asked how Diaz places his bets. “Do you use an app? Like what do you do? You do it on DraftKings?” Rogan said.
“DraftKings. Everything is on DraftKings,” Diaz replied.
Rogan followed up by asking whether he still used a traditional bookmaker. He asked, “All right. You don’t have a bookie?”
“No,” Diaz answered.
Although Diaz acknowledged enjoying the platform, he quickly shifted the conversation toward what he sees as a growing problem within the gambling industry.
“I enjoy because DraftKings has so many fun,” Diaz said before contrasting it with the old underground betting world. “Like there’s bookies out there. Like they just keep busting these mafia rings in Jersey and New York. 39 people.”
He then pointed to a recent betting-related scandal.
“They had the big bust last year with the basketball coaches that they put the cards up and you could see through the cards on the table,” Diaz said.
From there, he offered a warning about where he believes the industry is heading. “It’s gambling has grown to a nightmare. We’re going to pay for this in 5 years.”
Diaz then drew a comparison between modern gambling promotions and the credit card marketing tactics that once targeted college students.
“But when I went to college after orientation, you walked out and there was credit card companies, Discover, Mastercard, Visa,” he said. “And they give you a credit card for being a student. For 250, automatic, right there.”
According to Diaz, gambling companies have now taken that place.
“And that now when you go to those orientation days, DraftKings is there.”
Diaz then continued his tirade.
“You know, the other ones, FanDuel’s there, and I’m not putting them down,” he said. “I love DraftKings, but you’re copping these kids. These kids don’t have enough problems with student loans.”
Diaz stated, “Right now. I’m going to put a thing. More people are gambling more than ever.”
Rogan then noted that the issue extends beyond the United States.
“In Australia, too,” he said. “My buddy McCann, you know, James McCann. He was talking about how crazy it is in Australia.”
The conversation soon shifted back to UFC match odds, but the exchange stood out on its own. Diaz openly argued that gambling has become a serious societal concern, warning that young people are being exposed to it before they are prepared to handle the consequences.
Despite being one of DraftKings’ most visible media partners, Rogan agreed with virtually every point Diaz made.
