DraftKings experienced a website crash due to an error in an email sent out to customers regarding a golf bet they never made. On August 13, DraftKings sent out an email to a large portion of its customer base explaining a “dead heat reduction” applied to a golf bet. However, many of these customers did not place the bet in question, leading to confusion and panic among users. This resulted in a massive influx of people trying to access the DraftKings website and app simultaneously, causing the system to crash.
The email mistake caused customers to believe their accounts had been hacked, prompting them to rush to the DraftKings platform to check their accounts. The sudden surge in traffic overwhelmed the system, making it impossible for users to access their accounts. This situation sparked concerns about potential security breaches, creating further chaos. Essentially, DraftKings inadvertently initiated a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack on itself by sending out the erroneous email.
While DraftKings has not officially confirmed that the email error caused the website crash, it is highly probable given the timing of events. Customers received the email around 10 pm ET, and reports of DraftKings outages on DownDetector.com began shortly after 10 pm, peaking at 10:42 pm. By midnight, reports of outages had subsided to pre-email levels.
This incident added to a tumultuous week for DraftKings, as the company faced backlash from customers over a proposed surcharge in high-tax states. After receiving significant criticism, DraftKings decided to retract the surcharge, further adding to the challenges they were already facing.
In conclusion, DraftKings’ website crash was a result of a miscommunication through an email that caused confusion and panic among customers. The influx of users trying to access the platform simultaneously overwhelmed the system, leading to a temporary outage. This incident highlights the importance of effective communication and preparedness for handling unexpected situations in the online gambling industry.