Three members of Congress are urging Major League Baseball (MLB) to revise its gambling policies amid controversy stemming from a FanDuel video featuring star player Bryce Harper.
On Monday, MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred and MLB Players Association Interim Executive Director Bruce Meyer received a letter from Rep. Paul Tonko, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and Rep. Valerie Foushee. The lawmakers are calling for changes that would prohibit players and teams from entering into partnerships with licensed sportsbooks.
The letter follows a distressing incident where a personalized video from Harper was sent to Terry Thompson, a former FanDuel VIP customer known to have a gambling addiction. In the video, Harper wished Thompson an "extra special Thanksgiving." However, this outreach was problematic since Thompson had lost over $1.5 million while wagering on FanDuel, accumulating a total of $18.5 million in wagers. Thompson's gambling activity was revealed in a lawsuit against FanDuel and DraftKings, filed by the Public Health Advocacy Institute on his behalf.
The current MLB gambling policy allows players to partner with gambling companies, provided they do not actively encourage the public to bet. The congressional members expressed their discontent in their letter, stating, "We write to demand an end to the MLB and MLBPA policies that enabled this type of predatory promotion."
Last month, Harper stated he was unaware of FanDuel's intent to use the video for its VIP program, which was facilitated through the Cameo platform. In his Instagram statement, he said, "Had I known FanDuel's true intent, I would not have made the video. The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation, or about any alleged 'partnership' between Cameo and FanDuel."
Congress is concerned about VIP programs run by sportsbooks across the country, which they believe contribute to gambling addiction. They argue that these programs create close ties between bettors and VIP managers, increasing the risk of addiction. The letter pointed out, "Gambling is a known addictive product and VIP/host relationships are designed to keep people actively engaged and at greater risk."
The lawmakers made it clear that the virtual nature of online betting allows VIP managers to interact with bettors frequently, rendering them vulnerable to manipulative marketing strategies.
FanDuel responded to the congressional letter by emphasizing their commitment to customer protection. A spokesperson asserted, "Customer protection is at the core of how FanDuel operates," detailing their proactive measures to assist customers in managing their gambling habits.
Congress has also demanded answers from MLB and the MLBPA. In addition to raising concerns about gambling deals, the letter includes several questions about how the leagues prioritize fan safety, evaluate the sufficiency of their policies against predatory programs, and whether education initiatives for players about the risks of sportsbook promotion participation will be implemented.
Tonko, Blumenthal, and Foushee expect a response by August 24. The lawmakers have a history of advocating for sports betting legislation. In 2024, they introduced the Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE) Bet Act to establish federal oversight of sports betting and combat illegal operations. The act proposes a ban on sports betting ads during specific hours of live broadcasts and restricts college player props and live bets. Although the act did not pass in 2024, it was reintroduced in 2025 after significant events raised concerns about illegal sports activities.
Tonko had also previously reached out to multiple professional sports leagues, urging them to support the SAFE Bet Act after three NBA players were implicated in a federal investigation related to illegal betting operations.
As the matter unfolds, the attention on gambling policies within professional sports continues to intensify.
