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Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have launched a direct attack on Major League Baseball and FanDuel, demanding an overhaul of marketing practices that use star players to keep high‑stakes gamblers engaged.
Their intervention followed revelations that Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies baseball player, had unknowingly recorded a personalised Cameo video later delivered by FanDuel as a VIP perk to Terry Thompson, a bettor who went on to sue the operator after losing more than $1.5m.
Harper quickly distanced himself from the controversy, stressing that he had no idea who had requested the clip or how it would be used.
“Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” he wrote on social media, adding that he was unaware of Thompson’s situation or any link between Cameo and the bookmaker.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, joined by Representatives Paul Tonko and Valerie Foushee, responded with a joint letter sent to MLB, the players’ union and FanDuel.
Local reports said the letter condemned the regulatory gap that allowed commercial bookmakers to enlist prominent athletes in VIP retention schemes. “We write to demand an end to the MLB and MLBPA policies that enabled this type of predatory promotion,” the lawmakers stated.
FanDuel asked to dismantle its VIP structure
Lawmakers have pressed FanDuel to tear down its VIP programmes, arguing that current MLB rules allowing players to sign endorsement deals with sportsbooks fail to protect those most at risk.
The group said the line drawn by the league, that athletes cannot promote betting on baseball games directly, “is effectively meaningless when high‑roller host programmes systematically target individuals displaying clear signs of gambling harm.”
Their letter pointed to Bryce Harper’s involvement in the recent video scandal, noting, “Mr. Harper has stated he was unaware of the true purpose of the video and would not have participated had he known. This incident, however, raises broader concerns that players are not prohibited from such endorsements and highlights a systemic failure rooted in the deep enmeshment between leagues, teams, and sportsbooks.”
With talks already underway for baseball’s next collective bargaining agreement, the congressional group insisted that both league executives and union leaders must confront these conflicts of interest directly.
They called for FanDuel to dismantle its VIP incentive structures and urged MLB to impose a sweeping ban on player‑led gambling endorsements.
MLB, the MLBPA and FanDuel have been given until 24 August to respond to a series of formal inquiries about their oversight and marketing rules. Neither the league nor the union has issued a public comment so far.
Source: NEXT.io
