Report: FanDuel Sent Bryce Harper Video to VIP Bettor With $2M Gambling Problem

A FanDuel VIP customer who developed a severe gambling addiction received a personalized video from Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Terry Thompson, who wagered $18.5 million at FanDuel, losing $2 million, alleges the sportsbook knowingly cultivated his addiction through its VIP program, showering him with luxury perks including Super Bowl trips and champagne, according to a lawsuit that the Public Health Advocacy Institute filed March 24 on his behalf in Common Pleas Court of Philadelphia.

As his gambling spiraled, Thompson sold his finance company and took out additional mortgages to fund his addiction. In February 2026, he blew his last $10,000 on a DraftKings parlay, according to The Inquirer.

Rather than tell his family the extent of his losses, he texted his therapist explaining that he planned to kill himself, prompting a police intervention.

‘Happy Thanksgiving’

In November 2024, Thompson received a video, seen by the Inquirer, featuring Harper who addresses Thompson by name and wishes him “an extra-special Thanksgiving.” The MLB star even asks after Thompson’s son, explaining the message had been arranged by “your host Bryttanni at FanDuel.”

A source told The New York Post Thursday (July 9) that Harper is not affiliated with FanDuel and that the sportsbook worked with content-creation company Cameo, the video-sharing website that enables users to request personalized messages from celebrities.

There is no suggestion that Harper would have known Thompson was suffering from addiction and he is not named in Thompson’s lawsuit, which instead focuses on FanDuel’s VIP program and its alleged treatment of high-value customers.

Uneasy Relationship

Until the late 2010s, MLB warned that widespread legalized sports betting posed a threat to the integrity of the game.

Today, it has official sportsbook partners, betting advertisements throughout broadcasts and stadiums, and collective bargaining rules allowing players to perform certain promotional work for betting companies, as long as they don’t encourage wagering on baseball.

Nevertheless, the incident raises questions about the sports proximity to gambling and whether active players should ever be associated with sportsbooks’ controversial VIP programs. Harper declined to discuss the situation when contacted by the Inquirer Thursday.

In a statement, FanDuel said it was “committed to fostering a culture of responsible gaming and protecting our customers.”

“Unlike illegal offshore sportsbooks, FanDuel employees are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools, and we continue to review and strengthen our policies to ensure we have the industry’s strongest consumer protection initiatives,” it added.