TLDR
- Lawmakers sent a joint letter to MLB, the players union, and FanDuel demanding changes to VIP betting promotions.
- The letter followed a scandal involving a Cameo video from Bryce Harper that FanDuel gave to a bettor who lost more than $1.5 million.
- Harper says he did not know how FanDuel planned to use the video and would not have made it otherwise.
- Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representatives Paul Tonko and Valerie Foushee are leading the push for reform.
- MLB, the union, and FanDuel have until August 24 to respond to formal questions about their marketing rules.
Lawmakers in Washington are putting pressure on Major League Baseball and FanDuel over how the sportsbook uses star players to keep big spending gamblers engaged.
The pressure follows a controversy involving Philadelphia Phillies player Bryce Harper. FanDuel had a personalized Cameo video from Harper delivered to a bettor as a VIP perk.
That bettor, Terry Thompson, later sued FanDuel after losing more than $1.5 million. Harper says he had no idea the video would be used this way.
“Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper wrote on social media. He said he was unaware of Thompson’s situation or any connection between Cameo and the sportsbook.
Lawmakers Demand Changes
Senator Richard Blumenthal joined Representatives Paul Tonko and Valerie Foushee in sending a joint letter to MLB, the MLB Players Association, and FanDuel.
The letter calls for an end to MLB and MLBPA policies that allowed this type of promotion to happen. Lawmakers described it as predatory.
They argue that current rules have a gap. Players cannot promote betting on baseball games directly, but they can still take part in VIP retention programs run by sportsbooks.
The lawmakers said this gap fails to protect people who show signs of gambling harm. They pointed directly to the Harper video as proof of the problem.
Their letter states that Harper was unaware of the video’s true purpose and would not have participated had he known. They said the incident shows a deeper issue tied to close ties between leagues, teams, and sportsbooks.
Timing Tied to Labor Talks
The letter arrives while MLB and the players union are already working on the next collective bargaining agreement.
Lawmakers say this gives both sides a chance to address the conflict of interest directly. They want the union and league to act now rather than later.
The letter specifically calls on FanDuel to dismantle its VIP incentive programs. It also urges MLB to ban player endorsements tied to gambling altogether.
MLB, the MLBPA, and FanDuel were given until August 24 to answer a series of formal questions. The questions focus on how each group oversees and approves this type of marketing.
As of now, neither MLB nor the players union has made a public statement. FanDuel also has not issued a response to the lawmakers’ letter.
