Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy accused the New York Times of publishing a “hit piece” about his ties to sports betting in order to portray him as a “scumbag.”
The Times ran a story over the weekend that quotes gambling industry watchdogs who accuse the Barstool founder of recklessly advising his fans to wager their “house, kids, [and] family” on a single game.
Portnoy claims that the Gray Lady failed to give him adequate opportunity to comment on a story whose aim was to “build a case against me.”
The Times story noted that Portnoy — who has described himself as a “degenerate gambler” and whose sports betting company, Barstool Sportsbook, is seeking a license to operate in several states — is being scrutinized by regulators who are said to be concerned about allegations of sexual misconduct and misogynistic behavior.