Three U.S. lawmakers are advocating for stricter regulations on sportsbook promotions aimed at VIP customers, following a controversy involving a personalized video featuring Bryce Harper sent to a FanDuel VIP client with a gambling addiction.
On August 10, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) along with Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Valerie Foushee (D-NY) addressed a letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB Players Association (MLBPA) Interim Executive Director Bruce Meyer, urging them to discontinue policies they believe facilitate such predatory promotions.
In their letter, the legislators demanded answers to five key questions by August 24:
- What is MLB and MLBPA's stance on players endorsing sportsbooks?
- How will they prioritize fan safety over revenue from gambling partnerships?
- Do existing policies effectively prevent engagement with predatory VIP programs?
- Will they provide education to players regarding the risks associated with sportsbook promotions?
- Will they ban players from participating in personalized sportsbook marketing related to VIP or tier programs?
This correspondence follows the emergence of a 2024 video featuring Harper, which was sent to a VIP customer named Terry Thompson, who reportedly lost over $1.5 million on the platform. In the video, Harper expressed gratitude for Thompson's support.
Harper later stated that he was unaware that FanDuel VIP host Bryttanni Morgan intended to use the video for promotional purposes and had not given consent for the recording's use.
The lawmakers contend that the Harper incident reveals a significant flaw in MLB's policies regarding player relationships with gambling entities. While MLB rules permit players to enter endorsement deals with sportsbooks, they argue that these rules still allow for the exploitation of personalized player content in promotions aimed at vulnerable individuals.
As MLB and the MLBPA are currently negotiating their next collective bargaining agreement, the lawmakers highlighted the union's public intentions to seek more freedom for players to engage with gambling companies. In contrast, Blumenthal, Tonko, and Foushee are advocating for an immediate cessation of policies that permit partnerships with sportsbooks that operate VIP programs.
This letter is part of a broader campaign by the trio against gambling marketing practices. In May, they, along with two other Democratic lawmakers, reached out to several online sportsbook CEOs regarding what they termed “predatory advertising” aimed at young adults. They expressed concern about the normalization of online gambling among younger Americans and sought clarity on marketing practices from major sportsbook operators.