Overview
- The Philadelphia Inquirer obtained a 21‑second video that was sent in November 2024 showing Bryce Harper addressing bettor Terry Thompson with a FanDuel logo visible.
- Thompson wagered about $18.5 million across apps since 2020 and lost roughly $1.5 million, a pattern of losses he says led to foreclosure, psychiatric treatment, and the March lawsuit against FanDuel and DraftKings.
- The video explicitly references Thompson’s FanDuel VIP manager, naming “your host Bryttanni at FanDuel,” which plaintiffs say illustrates how VIP staff cultivate high rollers with gifts and personalized outreach.
- There is no public evidence Harper had a formal deal with FanDuel or knew of Thompson’s addiction, and some reports say the VIP manager may have sourced the message through a paid celebrity service rather than the sportsbook directly.
- Industry and legal experts say the episode could prompt closer scrutiny of VIP programs, athlete marketing and MLB rules because current agreements allow player endorsements but do not clearly govern personalized contacts with bettors.