FanDuel Pushes Back on High-Roller Image: Median Bet Is Just $5

FanDuel is facing intense scrutiny over allegations that its VIP program targets high-volume losing bettors with lavish perks—including personalized video messages from professional athletes. In response, the sportsbook released internal data showing that the vast majority of its users engage in low-stakes, recreational play.

FanDuel, the largest sportsbook in the U.S. with roughly 44% market share, has published a “Fast Facts” webpage disclosing user data on its platform. The company revealed that its median bet size is just $5, and the median sports bettor loses $63 per month.

Calculating the median sports wager differs from calculating the average. To find the median, all values are ordered from smallest to largest, and the middle value is selected.

FanDuel VIP Defense

The disclosure comes as FanDuel faces intense criticism over its VIP program, including pushback from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

The controversy gained national attention after Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper sent a personalized video message to a problem gambler who allegedly lost $1.5 million on the platform. FanDuel commissioned the video via Cameo, though Harper later stated he was unaware of how it would be used, adding that FanDuel “had no right to do it.”

Following demands for answers from Blumenthal, FanDuel acknowledged sending customers approximately 30 personalized videos featuring athletes and celebrities over a two-year period.

To defend its practices, FanDuel cited research from Cambridge University’s Journal of Financial Literacy and Wellbeing, which showed that most U.S. sports bettors gamble infrequently: 50.5% bet a few times a year and 21.9% bet once a year, compared to 4.7% who bet weekly and 2.3% who bet daily.

FanDuel also highlighted a 2026 Gallup poll indicating that the percentage of Americans betting on professional sports dropped from 22% in 1989 to 7% this year.

“While mobile sportsbooks have changed how Americans can place wagers, betting on sports existed long before today’s legal online market. Historical surveys show that this activity was actually more popular in the late 1980s and ’90s,” the FanDuel website said.

FanDuel concluded that the research and data offer “a clearer picture of today’s average sports bettor.”

Responsible Gaming Tools & Continued Scrutiny

While highlighting these metrics, FanDuel acknowledged that medians and averages “only tell part of the story.” The operator pointed to its range of responsible gaming tools—including wager limits and cooling-off periods—designed to help players manage their gambling.

Blumenthal wants more disclosures from FanDuel regarding its VIP program.

FanDuel operates in Blumenthal’s home state of Connecticut through a retail and online partnership with Mohegan Sun.