Bryce Harper Responds to Backlash Over FanDuel Video Sent to Gambling Addict
Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper says he was misled into recording a personalized video that FanDuel later used as part of its VIP outreach to a customer with a severe gambling addiction, breaking his silence Monday after the story sparked a state investigation into the sportsbook.
The controversy centers on Terry Thompson, a FanDuel customer who wagered roughly $18.5 million with the company since 2020 and lost more than $1.5 million, according to a lawsuit he filed against FanDuel and competitor DraftKings. As Thompson's losses mounted, FanDuel granted him VIP status, showering him with perks including champagne and Super Bowl tickets. In November 2024, his assigned FanDuel host, identified in the video only as "Bryttanni," arranged for Harper to record a 21-second personal video wishing Thompson and his son a happy Thanksgiving. The clip, later published by the Philadelphia Inquirer, carries FanDuel's logo and includes Harper referencing Thompson's "VIP host... from FanDuel."
Harper's Response
Harper addressed the controversy directly on Instagram Monday, ahead of his appearance in the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby. "I joined Cameo to engage with fans through paid personalized videos. What happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved," he wrote.
He said the request came through Cameo's personal video category rather than its business option, and that he "read it in good faith" without knowing FanDuel would brand it as a promotional tool. "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," he wrote, adding that he has "no affiliation with FanDuel whatsoever" and would not have made the video had he known its intended use.
Harper said his legal counsel has instructed him not to comment further on the matter.
The Toll on Thompson
According to Thompson's lawsuit, his gambling losses ultimately led to the foreclosure of his home after he took out second and third mortgages to cover his debts, and he sold his shares in an investment company. The suit states that Thompson disclosed a suicidal crisis to his therapist, who arranged for police to respond to his home; he subsequently entered a psychiatric facility, where he stayed for six days and was formally diagnosed with a gambling addiction disorder. Thompson's suit alleges that his FanDuel VIP host offered him a brief "timeout" from betting at one point in 2022, but that the company continued offering bonuses and incentives that fueled his continued gambling. The Harper video itself is not named in the lawsuit.
Regulatory and League Scrutiny
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board confirmed last week that it is reviewing the matter. "We are aware of the situation and are reviewing it," board spokesperson Doug Harbach said, declining to elaborate further. Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have both declined to comment, and sources told Front Office Sports there is no indication either organization sanctioned the video.
FanDuel has defended its practices in a statement, saying the company "is committed to fostering a culture of responsible gaming and protecting our customers," and that its employees "are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools." The company has not responded directly to Harper's Instagram statement.
A Broader Pattern
Sports gambling expert and author Danny Funt, who has written extensively on the industry, said VIP programs like FanDuel's are designed to keep high-value bettors engaged regardless of the harm involved. "They exist to egg on a reckless and potentially dangerous style of betting, using perks and other incentives that would be borderline irresistible for many sports fans," he said. Leigh Steinberg, an attorney who has represented several MLB All-Stars and has spoken publicly about his own history with addiction, called the arrangement "exploitative" and said it risks "stacking the deck unfairly in favor of continuing addicting behavior."
Thompson is part of a broader lawsuit filed in March by the nonprofit Public Health Advocacy Institute, which accuses both FanDuel and DraftKings of designing their platforms to create and sustain gambling addiction. Recent survey data cited in that case found more than half of men ages 18 to 49 have an active sports betting account, and 42% of active bettors said they felt they were spending more than they should.
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