David Purdum
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- Joined ESPN in 2014.
- Journalist covering the gambling industry since 2008.
Several authors
Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper said Monday he doesn’t know how FanDuel will use a personalized video he made for a customer who has since accused the bookmaker in a lawsuit of exploiting his gambling addiction.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Harper said he would not have made the video if he had known about FanDuel’s intention to use it as part of a VIP promotion or about customer Terry Thompson’s betting habits.
“I didn’t know FanDuel would do this,” Harper wrote. “I did not consent to this and FanDuel had no right to do this.”
Harper said that in November 2024, on Cameo, he received a request to read the provided script for a personal “celebration video for Terry.” The Philadelphia Inquirer published excerpts of the video in an article last Thursday, and Harper included a screenshot of Cameo’s request with his statement.
“Hello, Terry? How are you, brother? Hey man, your host Brittany from FanDuel wanted your Thanksgiving to be special,” Harper says at the beginning of the video.
In March, Thompson sued FanDuel and its VIP host Brittany Morgan, as well as DraftKings, the NFL and the league’s official data distributor, Genius Sports, alleging that the sportsbooks made him addicted, leading to approximately $2 million in betting losses.
“If I had known FanDuel’s true intentions, I would not have made the video,” Harper said. “The same would be true if I knew anything about Terry or his situation, or any purported ‘partnership’ between Cameo and FanDuel.”
The lawsuit alleges that Morgan contacted Thompson with promotional offers and gifts to entice him to place more bets on FanDuel, including tickets and hotel stays for the Super Bowl.
Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement allows players to conduct promotions with sportsbooks as long as they do not allow their name, uniform number, image or likeness to be used or to promote baseball betting.
FanDuel referred to its previous ESPN statement on Harper’s issue, saying its employees are “trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools.”
“We continue to review and strengthen our policies to ensure we have the strongest consumer protection initiatives in the industry,” the statement said.
Major League Baseball and the MLBPA declined to comment on Harper’s statement.
A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board told ESPN it is reviewing the matter.