FanDuel Defends VIP Program Requiring $25K in Monthly Sports Bets

FanDuel is defending its responsible gaming practices after three congressional Democrats demanded answers about why a VIP sports bettor struggling with gambling addiction received a personalized Thanksgiving message from MLB superstar Bryce Harper. The sportsbook did not address the controversial video directly, instead pointing to its industry-leading responsible gaming tools and technology.

A Philadelphia man who lost more than $1.5 million betting on FanDuel by gambling away his savings and taking out several mortgages on his home says in a court filing that he was trying to quit when he received the video from the Philadelphia Phillies slugger in Thanksgiving 2024. In the message, Harper thanked the man for his support and wished him and his family, by name, an “extra special” holiday.

FanDuel did not explain how a bettor whose addiction was spiraling out of control was targeted by its VIP team. Instead, the sportsbook cited its commitment to responsible gaming.

“At FanDuel, we take seriously our responsibility to operate in a manner that is accountable, transparent, and worthy of the trust our customers and regulators place in us,” Cory Fox, FanDuel’s senior vice president of public policy and sustainability, wrote to Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Reps. Paul Tonko (NY) and Valerie Foushee (NC).

Fox highlighted FanDuel parent Flutter Entertainment’s $158 million spend on responsible gaming in 2025. The executive also cited the sportsbook’s responsible gaming technology and tools made available to every bettor and how the company identifies and responds to at-risk behavior.

FanDuel VIP Program

FanDuel and other sportsbooks assign VIP hosts for bettors who bet large volumes on the online platforms. Known as the FanDuel Players Club, a bettor acquires FanDuel Points (FDPs) with each bet. Hosts, or personal account managers, are assigned to customers who reach the Hall of Famer or VIP levels, which start at 125,000 FDPs. The VIP tier requires 600,000 points.

Account managers are tasked with interacting with the bettor to keep them playing. Blumenthal, Tonko, and Foushee said in their letter to FanDuel that hosts foster “false friendships” and provide perks to the sportsbook’s biggest losers to keep them “distracted” from their financial costs.

In response, Fox said VIP status comes with “more oversight, not fewer safeguards.”

“Together, these measures give VIP customers additional attention and access to responsible gaming resources without changing the standards that apply to their play,” Fox continued.

FanDuel VIP Status

So, what does it take to be assigned a FanDuel host by reaching the Hall of Famer tier?

FanDuel players receive five FDPs for every $1 bet. To reach the Hall of Famer 125,000-point threshold, that means the customer must bet $25,000 a month on sports. To reach the VIP tier of 600,000 points, a customer must bet $120,000 a month.

Though FDPs do not expire until a year of account activity, qualifying status points reset on the first of each month. The customer’s status is based on their previous month’s play.

Hall of Famers and VIPs receive $20,000 in monthly free play, though those bets do not earn FDPs.

“The FanDuel Players Club is our way of thanking you for being a loyal fan,” the FanDuel website says.