Big Ev could be in big trouble.
The Barstool Sports personality, whose real name is Evan McDowell, has been accused of taking advantage of his audience on social media.
McDowell allegedly stiffed bookies by failing to repay followers who placed wagers on his behalf, according to multiple accusations that have surfaced online, including two supposed victims who spoke to Awful Announcing.
“@stoolpresidente, @PicksCentral, @BarstoolBigCat, @DoubleVodkaDon big ev is a scumbag who dms stoolies for bookies then robs them and ghosts when he loses,” a since-deleted post earlier this week read on X from a now inactive social media account.
McDowell appears to have been pulled from the Barstool gambling show “Picks Central,” along with all other content the media outlet publishes.
He has not posted on social media since March 31 when he excitedly posted a video about the “Summer House” drama.
Barstool did not respond to The Post’s requests for comment on the accusations related to McDowell.
These allegations are surely putting their gambling partner, DraftKings, in a tough situation, as, true or not, sportsbooks are constantly under scrutiny when it comes to problem gambling.
For starters, online bookies are not legally regulated betting, so that will upset DraftKings, which is paying Barstool Sports seven figures per year to make advertising content for them.
Nearly every ad that you see on television, podcasts or websites comes with a disclaimer about problem gambling, and they are all regulated by state gaming commissions.
Any problem gambling at Barstool will be a hot-button topic for betting operators, as we’ve already seen in years past.
Company founder Dave Portnoy had run-ins with Massachusetts state regulators over his tactics to bring in new customers.
Barstool advertised a “Can’t Lose Parlay” promotion in 2023 and was forced to go to court before regulators for it.
Lawyers used a “Crunch Berries” defense by saying it fell under the same legal standard that applies to Cap’n Crunch’s signature cereal, which doesn’t contain real berries.
Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps
Barstool wound up only being forced to stop the promotion, but court proceedings got ugly as regulators aggressively targeted Barstool’s blurred lines between “entertainment and real betting advice,” which could encourage riskier gambling behavior.
The accusations against “Big Ev” could certainly rehash old problems for Barstool Sports regarding the responsible gambling messaging that DraftKings and other legal sportsbooks must adhere to in order to hold licenses in the space.
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he’s showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
