Share 
Bonus TL;DR
- MLBPA would support banning players from promoting sportsbook VIP programs under a new labor deal.
- Congress and Pennsylvania regulators are pressing FanDuel, MLB, and the union over a Bryce Harper video sent to a gambler who lost $1.5 million.
The MLB Players Association said it would support banning players from participating in personalized marketing for online sportsbooks through VIP programs, a notable shift as FanDuel Sportsbook, MLB, and the union face congressional pressure over a video message from Bryce Harper that was sent to a gambler.
The union’s position matters because it signals a possible change in the next collective bargaining agreement with MLB, while lawmakers and Pennsylvania regulators continue examining whether sportsbook VIP tactics crossed a line into predatory marketing.
MLBPA says current rules have a gap on VIP promotions
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, MLBPA general counsel Jeffrey Perconte said the union would be willing to adopt the restriction in a new labor deal with MLB. He said existing collectively bargained rules already allow players to appear in ads or make personal appearances for casinos, racetracks, or sportsbook companies, as long as they do not encourage betting on baseball.
But Perconte said those policies do not specifically address the VIP campaigns now under scrutiny. In a response cited by the Inquirer, he wrote: “That said, our current policies do not explicitly reference or otherwise address the types of ‘predatory VIP programs’ described in your Aug. 10 letter. The Association stands ready to make proposals to fill that gap.”
The issue drew attention after U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Reps. Paul D. Tonko and Valerie P. Foushee sent letters to MLB, the MLBPA, and FanDuel demanding changes. The lawmakers urged FanDuel Sportsbook to end its VIP program and called on MLB and the union to prohibit players from promotional work for gambling companies.
Harper video and $1.5 million loss intensified pressure
The congressional scrutiny stems from a 21-second personalized video Harper recorded through Cameo that a FanDuel VIP host sent in 2024 to Terry Thompson, a Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, resident who lost $1.5 million betting with FanDuel.
A lawsuit filed in March by the nonprofit Public Health Advocacy Institute on Thompson’s behalf alleges he had planned to die by suicide earlier this year rather than tell his family about the losses. Harper has said he did not know FanDuel would use the video as a reward for a gambler with an addiction.
FanDuel defended its VIP practices. Senior vice president Cory Fox said VIP account managers are salaried and that “Their compensation is not tied to how much their customers wager or the results of those customers’ wagering activities.” The company also said it reviews betting history before offering VIP status and provides tools for customers to limit how much and how often they wager.
FanDuel did not answer questions, according to the Inquirer, about whether VIP managers had sent videos from other athletes or celebrities to gamblers.
What happens next
The proposed player restriction is not yet in effect. Perconte said the MLBPA could pursue it in the next collective bargaining agreement, but the Inquirer reported that MLB has so far rejected the union’s separate proposal to jointly lobby for a ban on proposition bets and event contracts tied to a player’s in-game performance.
Outside baseball, scrutiny is also building in Pennsylvania. State officials are planning legislation that would restrict or eliminate sportsbook VIP programs and in-game microbets, while the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said it is reviewing the Harper video.
Perconte also told the Inquirer that half of MLB’s 30 franchises have partnerships or sponsorships with sports betting operators, underscoring how closely the league and betting industry are already tied.
Source: As reported by David Gambacorta.
