Pennsylvania gaming regulators are reviewing a Bryce Harper Cameo video that FanDuel sent to Terry Thompson, a bettor who later said he struggled with gambling addiction. The case has become a test of how far sportsbook VIP outreach can go when a customer shows signs of harm.
Doug Harbach, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, said the board was aware of the situation and was reviewing it, but could not comment further. PlayPennsylvania said it remains unclear what action, if any, the board will take.
Harper said in an Instagram statement on 13 July that he did not know FanDuel would use the video, did not consent to it and that FanDuel had no right to do so. He said he joined Cameo to engage with fans through paid personalized videos and that what happened went beyond anything he knew about or approved.
The video was sent in November 2024 and addressed Thompson by name. It wished him an extra-special Thanksgiving and asked after his son, while another report said it was marked with FanDuel’s logo and arranged through a FanDuel VIP host identified as Bryttanni.
CBS News Philadelphia noted that the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thompson had wagered $18.5 million with FanDuel and was eventually rewarded with the personalized video. Other reports put the amount he lost at $1.5 million or $2 million, so the scale of the losses has not been described consistently in the coverage.
The underlying lawsuit, filed in March in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court by the Public Health Advocacy Institute on Thompson’s behalf, names FanDuel and DraftKings. It says Thompson hid his gambling from loved ones, lost his home to foreclosure, planned to take his own life, spent six days in a psychiatric facility and was formally diagnosed with a gambling addiction disorder.
The suit also describes VIP hosts offering gifts and inducements to keep him betting, including Super Bowl tickets, hotel accommodations, party access and betting credits. One report said Thompson accused his FanDuel VIP host, Bryttani Morgan, of using promotional offers and gifts to keep him gambling, and that after a suggestion to “take a timeout”, FanDuel later contacted him about an “emergency”.
FanDuel said it is committed to fostering a culture of responsible gaming and protecting customers. It said employees are trained to recognise signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools, and that it continues to review and strengthen its policies.
