FanDuel recently updated Congress about its VIP program, revealing that it has sent approximately 30 personalized videos featuring athletes and entertainers to customers over the last two years. In a letter dated September 24 to three Congressional representatives who have been scrutinizing the program since the summer, FanDuel did not waver in its commitment to continue the VIP initiative. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on the letter last week.
The correspondence details the training, monitoring, and limitations imposed on FanDuel's VIP hosts. It asserts the company's role as "a transparent, responsive, and cooperative partner" in the sector. A FanDuel spokesperson opted not to provide additional comments regarding the letter.
The discussion surrounding the VIP program intensified following a troubling incident in 2024, when a FanDuel VIP host sent a Cameo video greeting from Philadelphia Phillies player Bryce Harper to a bettor dealing with a gambling addiction. This incident prompted Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Valerie Foushee (D-NC) to seek deeper insights into FanDuel's operations.
After a preliminary response from FanDuel in August failed to satisfy the lawmakers, they reiterated their inquiries on September 3, demanding further clarification. The new letter from FanDuel is a direct response to those eight questions from Cory Fox, the company’s senior vice president of public policy and sustainability.
Notably, on September 23, prior to FanDuel’s letter, Blumenthal and Tonko participated in an initiative with the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) in Washington aimed at promoting gambling reform. Previously, the PHAI had filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia on behalf of Terry Thompson, the bettor who received the Harper video. Reports suggest that Thompson, who lost $1.5 million while gambling at FanDuel, contemplated suicide earlier this year, fearing his family would learn about his losses. Harper has publicly stated that he was unaware of how FanDuel would utilize the video.
The lawmakers have remained persistent critics, initially pressing FanDuel to eliminate its VIP program while seeking clarity from CEO Christian Genetski about the program’s structure.
In response to previous feedback, FanDuel clarified that its VIP account managers are paid a salary and do not earn commission based on customer wagering. They outlined their responsible gaming measures and reported that Perks are not used to deter customers from reducing gambling activities.
In the latest letter dated September 24, FanDuel addressed each of the eight questions posed by the lawmakers. The company stated that it doesn’t offer incentives to discourage customers from limiting their play, emphasizing a distinct separation between commercial retention efforts for active bettors and responsible gaming initiatives for customers seeking to cut back. Furthermore, VIP rewards above certain thresholds require additional approval, and communication is restricted to designated company channels. FanDuel highlighted its training initiatives aimed at recognizing concerning behaviors, such as indications of financial distress or self-harm.
FanDuel also defended its joint venture, FanDuel Predicts, explaining that it operates under a separate legal framework and does not currently maintain a VIP program within that segment.
The latest communication has not yet elicited a public response from the lawmakers. Earlier, the MLB Players Association conveyed its support for prohibiting players from engaging in personalized VIP marketing during future contract discussions when their current agreement expires in December.
Senators Blumenthal and Tonko have been particularly vocal about reforming the gambling industry. Their SAFE Bet Act, introduced in 2024 and revived in March 2025, aims to establish nationwide regulations for state-licensed sportsbooks, including restrictions on deposits, wagers, and marketing tactics.
In March 2025, Blumenthal also proposed the Prediction Markets Security and Integrity Act, focusing on oversight and potential bans on controversial betting contracts. Their recent advocacy, along with PHAI, seeks to implement hearings and establish minimum standards addressing the concerns surrounding sports betting and prediction markets. “We know that the gambling industry, which includes not only DraftKings and FanDuel but also the prediction markets, is exploiting problem gambling,” Blumenthal stated.
As scrutiny of VIP programs intensifies, Massachusetts regulators are assessing the fairness of these initiatives in light of an ongoing inquiry. Preliminary findings have indicated that operators often reward losing customers rather than those who win consistently, raising concerns over fairness and responsible gambling practices.
In Pennsylvania, lawmakers are considering limitations placed on VIP programs and a ban on microbetting during live games. National coverage of problem gambling has also increased, highlighting systemic issues within the industry. ProPublica reported a case where DraftKings invited an individual into its VIP program immediately following substantial gambling losses, raising questions about the ethics of such practices.
