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Federal lawmakers are seeking more information from FanDuel about personalized videos sent to VIP bettors, including whether any recipients were problem gamblers. The latest inquiry keeps pressure on the sportsbook’s VIP program and its use of perks for high-value customers.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Reps. Paul D. Tonko and Valerie P. Foushee sent a letter asking FanDuel for copies of each of the roughly 30 videos the company said it sent over the last two years. The lawmakers also asked for details on the circumstances surrounding each video and FanDuel’s screening process for potential problem gamblers.
Lawmakers ask for copies of videos and VIP screening details
According to the lawmakers, FanDuel Senior Vice President Cory Fox said in a Sept. 24 letter that the company sent about 30 videos from athletes and entertainers as a “token of appreciation” for customer loyalty. Fox also wrote that FanDuel’s VIP program is “not designed to encourage destructive gambling.”
The new letter shows Congress is still not satisfied with that response. Blumenthal, Tonko, and Foushee said they remain concerned that VIP perks could be used to exploit vulnerable bettors, especially people dealing with gambling addiction.
Their questions go beyond the videos themselves. The lawmakers asked whether any customers who received them had requested account suspensions or gambling limits, what steps VIP hosts took to make sure a bettor was not problematic, what service was used to obtain the videos, and whether the athletes or celebrities knew the messages would be used in a gambling-related context.
Bryce Harper video remains central to the scrutiny
The congressional follow-up comes after earlier criticism this summer of FanDuel’s VIP program. The article cites a November 2024 incident in which a FanDuel VIP host allegedly sent bettor Terry Thompson a personalized video from Bryce Harper.
Lawmakers wrote that the Harper video was sent to a customer who had lost $1.5 million on FanDuel over several years. Thompson’s lawyer filed a lawsuit against FanDuel and DraftKings earlier this year, according to the report.
Harper said in July that he did not know the video would be used for a commercial purpose. The same lawmakers also wrote to MLB and the MLBPA in early August, urging them to end professional baseball players’ participation in VIP sports betting sponsorships.
What comes next
The lawmakers gave FanDuel until Tuesday, Oct. 20, to respond. For bettors, the next development to watch is whether FanDuel provides the requested materials and whether the inquiry leads to broader pressure on VIP sportsbook programs. If gambling stops feeling fun, help is available through responsible gambling support resources.
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Source: As reported by Robert Linnehan.
