Harper Consent Row Puts Sportsbook VIP Programs Under Regulatory Scrutiny

Phillies star Bryce Harper says FanDuel used a personalized video he recorded without his consent, turning a Cameo holiday message into a gambling promotion aimed at a customer who is now suing the sportsbook over roughly $2 million in losses.

In a statement posted to Instagram on Monday, Harper said he read a scripted "holiday video for Terry" requested through Cameo in November 2024 by someone identifying only as "Bryttanni," and did not know it would be used commercially. "I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it," he wrote.

The customer, Terry Thompson, sued FanDuel and his VIP host, Bryttanni Morgan in March, along with DraftKings, the NFL and data firm Genius Sports, alleging they fueled a gambling addiction that cost him about $2 million. The suit says Morgan plied Thompson with gifts, including Super Bowl tickets, to push him to bet more.

The Philadelphia Inquirer first published portions of the video last week.

Why It Matters

Harper's account puts a spotlight on VIP host programs, the high-touch schemes sportsbooks use to keep their biggest losers wagering. Regulators are watching: the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board told ESPN it is reviewing the matter, and FanDuel says its staff are trained to flag problem gambling.

For players, the case is a reminder that a celebrity endorsement can be manufactured without the athlete's knowledge, and that lavish VIP perks are often a signal you are being farmed for losses rather than rewarded.

Expect the Pennsylvania review and Thompson's suit to test how far books can go in courting high-spend customers.