Three mmbers of Congress are calling on Major League Baseball to make changes to its gambling policies amid a controversial video delivered by FanDuel that featured superstar Bryce Harper.
On Monday, MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred and MLBPA Interim Executive Director Bruce Meyer received a letter calling on MLB to change its policies that allow players and teams to secure partnerships with licensed sportsbooks.
The letter was sent by Rep. Paul Tonko, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and Rep. Valerie Foushee.
Manfred and Meyer received the letter following a controversial video sent to a former FanDuel VIP customer who has admitted to having a gambling addiction. The video was sent by a FanDuel VIP manager, with the content including Harper. In the video, the Philadelphia Phillies superstar wished former FanDuel customer Terry Thompson an “extra special Thanksgiving.”
Why is Harper video problematic for FanDuel, MLB?
The video was sent to Thompson in 2024 to encourage betting despite the former VIP member losing more than $1.5m wagering with the platform. In total, he wagered $18.5m.
Thompson’s betting habits with FanDuel were unveiled in a lawsuit against the Flutter-owned brand and DraftKings filed by the Public Health Advocacy Institute on behalf of Thompson. MLB’s current gambling policy allows players to secure partnerships with gambling brands as long as the players do not encourage the public to wager.
“We write to demand an end to the MLB and MLBPA policies that enabled this type of predatory promotion,” said the three Congress members in the letter.
Harper denies knowing FanDuel would use video for VIP
Last month, Harper denied knowing that the video would be used as part of FanDuel’s VIP program as the content was delivered via personalized video platform Cameo.
“Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” said Harper in a statement posted on Instagram. “The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation, or about any alleged ‘partnership’ between Cameo and FanDuel.”
VIP programs under Congressional fire
In the letter, the group takes direct aim at VIP programs offered by sportsbooks across the country. The Congress members believe the programs foster gambling addiction by creating personal relationships between managers and players that are based on betting.
“Gambling is a known addictive product and VIP/host relationships are designed to keep people actively engaged and at greater risk,” continues the letter.
“Moreover, the virtual nature of online sports betting makes it so that VIP managers are able to access bettors more frequently and at any time of the day, making bettors much more susceptible to manipulative marketing tactics.”
FanDuel has responded to the letter sent by the three Congress members this week.
“Customer protection is at the core of how FanDuel operates,” said a FanDuel spokesperson in a statement to SBC Americas.
“Through our ‘Play with a Plan’ research-based approach, we equip customers with clear, actionable tools to manage their play responsibly and utilize real-time notifications to make customers aware of out of the ordinary deposits. For customers showing signs of harm, we take additional action: our monitoring systems flag concerning patterns, and trained specialists engage directly to deploy protective measures including deposit limits, cooling-off periods, and account exclusions. Customer protection informs every decision we make as an organization, and we do not compromise when it comes to doing the right thing for our customers.”
Congress asks MLB a series of questions
The controversy involving FanDuel, Harper, and Thompson has led Congress to demand responses from MLB and the MLBPA, as the letter includes several questions.
The questions pertain to the ability for MLB players to secure gambling deals:
- As MLB and MLBPA renegotiate their collective bargaining agreement, what is your current position on allowing MLB players to seek endorsements and partnerships from sportsbooks?
- How will MLB and the MLBPA guarantee that fan safety and well-being take precedence over revenue from gambling partnerships?
- Do you believe MLB and MLBPA policies on sportsbook endorsements and partnerships are adequate to prevent engagement with predatory VIP programs?
- Will the MLB and MLBPA undertake any player education to ensure that players understand the risks their participation in sportsbook promotions poses to fans?
- Will the MLB and MLBPA prohibit players from participating in personalized marketing campaigns by sportsbooks as part of VIP or tier programs?
Blumenthal, Tonko and Foushee want responses from MLB and the MLBPA by Aug. 24. SBC Americas also reached out to MLB and the MLBPA for comment on the letter.
Tonko, Blumenthal heavily involved in gambling legislation
Tonko and Blumenthal’s sports betting concerns are not new, as the two have introduced legislation concerning America’s commercial sports betting market.
In 2024, the two lawmakers teamed up to draft the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE) Bet Act. The legislation aims to establish federal oversight of sports betting while cracking down on illegal gambling operations.
The bill proposes a ban on sports betting advertising from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. during live broadcasts of sports events. It also proposes a ban on college player props and live bets.
The SAFE BET Act failed to garner support in 2024, leading to its reintroduction in 2025.
That year, Tonko sent a letter to more than five U.S pro sports leagues asking the organizations to support the bill after three former and current NBA players were included in an FBI probe into illegal sports betting and Mafia-run rigged poker games. In 2025, the SAFE BET Act was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
