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State of Play’s TL;DR
- Congress is pushing MLB, the MLBPA, and FanDuel to tighten controls around sportsbook VIP marketing after Bryce Harper said a personalized video he recorded was used for a FanDuel VIP customer without his knowledge.
- The letters put athlete-image use and VIP programs back under the national gambling-policy spotlight.
A group of US lawmakers has asked Major League Baseball, the MLB Players Association, and FanDuel to explain their policies after a personalized Bryce Harper video was allegedly used by FanDuel for a VIP gambler.
According to The Source, Harper said he believed he was recording a cameo holiday message for a fan and did not know the request was connected to FanDuel.
Lawmakers challenge sportsbook VIP ties involving active players
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Paul Tonko, and Rep. Valerie Foushee sent letters to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, MLBPA Executive Director Bruce Meyer, and FanDuel CEO Christian Genetski. They called on MLB and the union to prohibit players from participating in sportsbook promotional programs and asked both organizations to clarify whether active players should be allowed to have promotional relationships with sportsbooks.
In the letters, the lawmakers wrote: “Despite clear harms that VIP programs pose to bettors, MLB and MLBPA continue to disregard fan safety by permitting partnerships with sportsbooks operating these programs.”
The lawmakers added:
“We demand an immediate end to this policy.”
The group also requested assurances that players will be educated about how their names, images, and likenesses could potentially be used by gambling operators, particularly through VIP programs. The lawmakers asked MLB, the MLBPA, and FanDuel to respond by Aug. 24.
Harper says he was misled
Harper said the video began as a cameo request he received in November 2024. He said he believed he was recording a personal holiday message for a fan named Terry Thompson and did not know FanDuel was behind the request.
According to the The Source, Harper said he never authorized FanDuel to turn the message into gambling-related promotional material. The article says Thompson received the video through his FanDuel VIP host as part of FanDuel’s efforts to maintain its relationship with him.
Thompson is involved in litigation related to the sports betting industry and alleges he lost nearly $2 million gambling.
Based on reporting by Sha Be Allah for The Source.
