TLDR FanDuel told three members of Congress that about 30 celebrity Cameo videos sent to VIP customers were thank-you gestures, not gambling incentives. The letter, sent Tuesday, is the company’s third response to Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Reps. Valerie Foushee and Paul Tonko. The dispute began after a report on a Bryce Harper video sent to a VIP bettor who later sued FanDuel and DraftKings. FanDuel says its VIP program works like loyalty programs in other industries and follows responsible gaming rules. FanDuel Predicts is running a 90-day VIP program trial that does not include Cameo videos.
FanDuel has told three members of Congress that celebrity videos sent to its VIP customers were not meant to keep them gambling. The sportsbook made the claim in a letter sent Tuesday and obtained by InGame.
The company said it reviewed about 30 Cameo videos involving athletes and entertainers. It described them as “customer-appreciation gestures” that “were not commissioned or sent to induce continued gambling.”
The letter went to Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Reps. Valerie Foushee and Paul Tonko. It is FanDuel’s third response to the lawmakers in a dispute that has lasted several months.
How the Bryce Harper Video Started the Dispute
The exchange began in July after The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on a video featuring Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper. FanDuel had commissioned the video for Terry Thompson, a VIP-level customer.
In the video, Harper wished Thompson a happy Thanksgiving and mentioned his son by name. The video did not mention gambling, but Harper distanced himself from FanDuel when the story came out.
According to media reports, Thompson suffers from gambling addiction. He wagered $18.5 million on FanDuel over six years and lost $1.52 million. He also lost $336,000 on DraftKings.
In March, Thompson sued both companies. His