US lawmakers target FanDuel over risky marketing practices

Members of the U.S. Congress have addressed concerns over FanDuel’s personalized marketing practices after Philadelphia Phillies player Bryce Harper recorded a video for a fan with a known gambling addiction, which was sent to the player through the operator’s app.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, Representative Paul Tonko, and Representative Valerie Foushee sent a letter to the MLB and the baseball players’ union on August 10, urging them to strengthen sportsbook promotion rules and put an end to these types of ‘predatory’ interactions.

The letter stated:

“We write in light of recent reporting that a personalized greeting from Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was used to target an admitted gambling addict to encourage continued betting. We write to demand an end to the MLB and MLBPA policies that enabled this type of predatory promotion.”

According to reports, the personalized video was sent in 2024 to Terry Thompson, a VIP player at FanDuel who also suffers from problem gambling. After the interaction, Thompson reportedly lost over $1.5 million on bets and later sued the operator.

At the same time, Harper has insisted that he recorded the video without prior knowledge about how the material would be used.

Harper shared:

“In November 2024, someone identifying themselves only as ‘Bryttanni’ submitted an order through Cameo for a personal ‘holiday video for Terry.’ The request included a short script. I read it in good faith. FanDuel then put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion. I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it. Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video.”

The lawmakers have given the MLB until August 24, 2026, to respond to the accusations and answer the questions that are included in the letter.