A landmark lawsuit filed against FanDuel alleges the sports betting giant used a personalised video from Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper to encourage a problem gambler to continue wagering. The plaintiff, Terry Thompson, has spent approximately £14.5 million on the platform since 2020, according to court documents obtained by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
In the 21-second clip, Harper does not explicitly tell Thompson to gamble, but references Thompson's FanDuel host wanting him to have an 'extra special Thanksgiving'. The video was sent as part of FanDuel's VIP programme, which assigns dedicated managers to build personal relationships with high-spending customers. The lawsuit claims Thompson eventually took out second and third mortgages on his home, lost the property to foreclosure, and underwent psychiatric treatment for gambling addiction.
The case exposes the blurred line between professional athletes and gambling platforms. Major League Baseball prohibits players from betting on baseball — two pitchers were federally indicted last year for allegedly accepting bribes to fix pitches — yet the league itself has extensive commercial partnerships with sportsbooks, and betting ads are ubiquitous in stadiums and broadcasts. No precedent exists for an active star athlete sending a direct, personalised message to a specific bettor, according to the Inquirer's investigation.
For UK readers, the case carries significant weight. The UK Gambling Act is under ongoing review, and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has previously flagged concerns about how betting firms use personal data to target vulnerable customers. Under the EU AI Act, which also affects UK firms operating in Europe, such personalised targeting could face stricter scrutiny if algorithms are used to identify and groom high-value gamblers. Dr. Linda Whitfield, a gambling addiction researcher at the University of Glasgow, told UKPulse Media: 'This case demonstrates how VIP programmes can exploit psychological vulnerabilities. The use of celebrity endorsements adds a layer of trust that makes it harder for addicts to recognise the harm.'
For UK businesses in the betting sector, the lawsuit signals a potential shift in regulatory expectations. The UK Gambling Commission has already tightened rules on VIP schemes, including a ban on 'reverse withdrawals' and restrictions on bonuses. If the FanDuel case leads to further litigation or public pressure, British firms may face demands to disclose how they manage high-spending customers and whether athlete endorsements are ever used in direct marketing to individuals with known gambling problems.