Congress Wants Answers Regarding Bryce Harper FanDuel VIP Video

Bryce Harper, an outfielder and first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, was used for personalized videos as an incentive for a VIP gambler, and now Congress wants answers as to how that happened. 

The three members of Congress pushing for answers are Senator Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Paul Tonko, and Rep. Valerie Foushee. They said they "strongly demanded" that FanDuel end this sort of VIP treatment and also asked MLB not to allow this sort of endorsement deal. 

Harper was used in a video a client who later sued FanDuel citing his gambling addiction. Of course, MLB has had its own gambling issues, including suspending Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz in 2025 and placing another Guardians pitcher, Emmanuel Clase, on leave that same month (July 2025) amid a gambling investigation. 

“Despite clear harms that VIP programs pose to bettors, MLB and MLBPA continue to disregard fan safety by permitting partnerships with sportsbooks operating these programs,” the lawmakers wrote to MLB and the league's Players Association. “We demand an immediate end to this policy.”

Now, the lawmakers are expecting answers from all parties by August 24. 

Lawmakers Call for End to FanDuel VIP Program

This comes at a time when the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the MLB and MLBPA ends on December 1. The lawmakers asked about the league's position on these sorts of endorsements, noting the MLBPA has “publicly announced their intention to seek greater freedom for players to have relationships with gambling companies.”

The lawmakers also asked questions related to fan safety and to taking precedence over gambling deals. 

In all, there were eight questions, but before those questions, the letter stated: 

“FanDuel should not be using reckless and unscrupulous loyalty programs to drive bettors into debt and addiction. As such, we strongly demand FanDuel to end its VIP program for bettors, especially those suffering from a gambling addiction, on its platform.”

Bryce Harper Says He Didn't Know Video Was for FanDuel

Harper addressed the video on July 13, just before the Home Run Derby. He said he joined Cameo to engage with fans, and in November 2024, he received a request from “Bryttanni” to make a “holiday video for Terry.”

“Cameo had a separate category for business video requests, and at the time I did not know this video would be used for commercial purposes,” Harper wrote. “That request included a short script. I read it in good faith.”

He then claimed FanDuel added its logo to it and used it as a gambling promotion without his knowledge or consent. 

“Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper wrote. “The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation, or about any alleged ‘partnership’ between Cameo and FanDuel.”

FanDuel Responds to VIP Program Scrutiny

NBC10 reached out to FanDuel, which responded with this statement: 

“FanDuel is committed to fostering a culture of responsible gaming and protecting our customers," a spokesperson for the company wrote. "Unlike illegal offshore sportsbooks, FanDuel employees are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools, and we continue to review and strengthen our policies to ensure we have the industry’s strongest consumer protection initiatives.”