Share 
Three members of Congress are demanding that FanDuel shut down its VIP rewards program, adding new pressure on one of the largest U.S. sportsbook operators over how it handles high-value bettors and problem gambling concerns.
In a letter to FanDuel CEO Christian Genetski, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Reps. Paul D. Tonko and Valerie P. Foushee said the company should end the program and answer eight questions about its VIP practices by Aug. 24.
The lawmakers wrote that FanDuel “should not be using reckless and unscrupulous loyalty programs to drive bettors into debt and addiction” and said VIP managers can foster “false friendships” that encourage more betting.
Lawmakers cite Bryce Harper video sent to bettor
The request follows reporting by The Philadelphia Inquirer about Terry Thompson, a Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, resident who later lost $1.5 million on bets placed with FanDuel while struggling with a gambling addiction.
According to the report, a FanDuel VIP manager sent Thompson a 21-second personalized video greeting from Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper in 2024. Harper said he recorded the message through Cameo and did not know FanDuel would use it as a reward for a gambler.
A lawsuit filed in March by the Public Health Advocacy Institute on Thompson’s behalf alleged he planned to die by suicide earlier this year rather than tell his family about the extent of his losses.
MLB and union also asked to revisit promotion rules
In a separate letter, the same lawmakers urged Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association to change policies that allowed the Harper promotion to happen.
MLB’s collective bargaining agreement currently allows players to appear in advertisements or make personal appearances for casinos, racetracks, or sportsbook companies, as long as they do not encourage betting on baseball. The lawmakers called the lack of a stricter prohibition a “systemic failure.”
The issue could remain active beyond FanDuel’s response. The MLBPA is seeking more freedom for players to pursue endorsements from sportsbook operators and prediction markets in negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, which is set to expire in December.
What bettors should watch next
The immediate next date is Aug. 24, when lawmakers want FanDuel’s response. Among the questions: whether VIP managers have sent other athlete or celebrity videos to gamblers, and what safeguards FanDuel uses to monitor managers for predatory offers to problem gamblers.
Separately, Pennsylvania officials are planning legislation that would restrict or eliminate sportsbook VIP programs and in-game microbets. While that effort is outside New York, it is another sign that VIP marketing practices are facing broader scrutiny across the U.S. sports betting industry.
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, use responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, time limits, or self-exclusion.
—
Source: As reported by David Gambacorta.
