DraftKings Gives Back to Community with S.E.R.V.E.S.

DraftKings S.E.R.V.E.S. is a multi-faceted program aimed at community engagement with employees and customers.
DraftKings Gives Back to Community with S.E.R.V.E.S.
By
December 06, 2021

Operators in the gaming space are always looking for ways to give back, but DraftKings goes the extra mile with DraftKings S.E.R.V.E.S. The multi-pronged program looks to engage with customers and employees in community building, business, and skills mentorships.

The DraftKings S.E.R.V.E.S. system looks at community service from a holistic perspective. It includes high-tech skills training programs aimed at veterans, mentorship and funding for gaming-related business ventures, and responsible gaming.

The program has six main facets, broken down by the S.E.R.V.E.S. name.

  • Service
  • Equity
  • Responsibility
  • Vitality
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Sports

DraftKings describes the program as “creating inclusive and responsible pathways for people to build, create, imagine, and innovate.” The idea is to “facilitate meaningful relationships between our employees and customers and the communities and causes they feel passionate about in order to create a better world for everyone.”

How DraftKings S.E.R.V.E.S. Its Community

The DraftKings S.E.R.V.E.S. program aims to cast a wide net in its community service aspect, including corporate policies on equity and responsible gaming, and entrepreneurial and skills mentorships, as well as investment in innovation and environmental and social objectives.

Service

Service leads the way for S.E.R.V.E.S., and it is DraftKings’ way to say thank you to veterans and their families. According to the operator, the Service aspect provides “training in high demand tech skills for current and returning veterans and their spouses.”

Service includes 1-to-1 mentoring, resume development, career road-mapping, and skills translation, as well as peer-to-peer networking. DraftKings pledges to work with veterans to expand awareness of high-tech employment opportunities for veterans, and help guide them in high-tech career pursuits.

Equity

Equity is a program aimed at increasing the diversity of staff at DraftKings. The company is looking to grow its global presence in the gaming field, seeking talented people to do what they love to help fuel that growth. See the link in the heading for details on careers at DraftKings, as well as a look at the workplace culture.

Responsibility

The “R” part of S.E.R.V.E.S. stands for Responsibility, and details how DraftKings looks to combat problem gaming. It provides tips on controlling a player’s own gambling, as well as corporate pledges to:

  • Promote Responsible Gaming
  • Prevent Underage Gambling
  • Advertise Responsibly

Vitality

Vitality is all about environmental and social objectives, with DraftKings committed to sustainability. Leading the sustainability challenge for the operator is the new special advisor to the company’s CEO and board of directors for environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) initiatives Gisele Bündchen.

The philanthropist and former model has a long history of advocating for vital environmental and social causes, and one of the first initiatives she will be part of in her new role will be helping DraftKings reach its goal of planting 1 million trees. DraftKings lets players contribute directly to that effort through daily fantasy sports contests and free-to-play pools.

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship at DraftKings is all about Drive, a multi-stage venture capital firm that invests in SportsTech and Entertainment. Along with other founding partners like General Catalyst, Accomplice and Boston Seed Capital the initiative is looking to help develop new ideas in the gaming and high-tech sector.

Among the competitive edges Drive can bring a project are:

  • Superior deal flow and access
  • Founding partners invested and aligned
  • Deeply experienced team and advisors
  • Connected to premier industry experts, athletes, team owners, and media properties

Sports

The final segment of the six-part plan is innovation in sports-tech through partnerships. DraftKings is part of the funding for the International Gaming Institute at the University of Las Vegas (UNLV), which is described as the “global intellectual capital of gaming” and “The Harvard of Gaming”.

Across the S.E.R.V.E.S. program, the main focus is clear—engaging directly with the present and future of online gaming through its employees, customers, and the community at large. The six-pronged effort is a solid effort for DraftKings in community engagement and investment in the future.

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