A lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania is putting FanDuel’s treatment of one bettor under a harsh spotlight, and Bryce Harper’s name is now tangled up in the fallout.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Terry Thompson says he lost $1.5 million wagering through FanDuel and claims the sportsbook kept encouraging him to bet even as signs of a gambling problem mounted. Thompson and Christopher Sage filed the broader suit earlier this year, accusing FanDuel, DraftKings and the NFL of helping fuel their addictions.
The complaint says Thompson was handled like a premium customer rather than an ordinary bettor. FanDuel allegedly gave him a VIP host, along with perks that included Super Bowl tickets, bottles of champagne and other rewards typically reserved for high-value players.
One of the more striking perks reportedly came from Harper. The suit says FanDuel arranged a personalized video from the Phillies star, in which the two-time National League MVP wished Thompson and his family a happy Thanksgiving and greeted Thompson’s young son by name.
The video itself is not alleged to have broken any law or MLB rule, but it has drawn criticism from gambling experts. Sports betting researcher Danny Funt told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he had never heard of an active player recording a personalized message for a sportsbook customer in that kind of setting.
Patrick Mahomes’ agent, Leigh Steinberg, also took issue with it. “It’s not good for your brand,” Steinberg said. “It’s exploitative.”
The episode is drawing extra attention because Harper has previously spoken against gambling because of his Mormon faith.
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