north america/SPORTS INDUSTRY & INTEGRITY
MLB player criticizes FanDuel for using his video as a VIP reward, claiming he didn't give his permission.
A controversy has erupted around an MLB star whose image and likeness have allegedly been included as a VIP reward for a known problem gambler. Philadelphia Phillies star slugger Bryce Harper has firmly denied giving permission for his image to be used to
Summary
- A controversy has erupted around an MLB star whose image and likeness have allegedly been included as a VIP reward for a known problem gambler.
- Philadelphia Phillies star slugger Bryce Harper has firmly denied giving permission for his image to be used to promote excessive gambling and emphasized that he never agreed to such use.
- FanDuel has announced its commitment to responsible gambling, with a team of trained specialists ready to identify gambling-related harm.
The endorsement of sports betting brands by celebrities has always been a ticking time bomb, and the situation with Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper only highlights the ongoing debate about the wisdom of having athletes as the public faces of these businesses.
Harper denies ever consenting to having his image and likeness used to encourage gamblers
The Philadelphia Inquirer previously covered a story about a bettor named Terry Thompson, who wagered $18.5 million with FanDuel and received a personalized thank-you video from the company, featuring an MLB star. The video was specifically tailored to Thompson, mentioning his name and personal details, like the fact that he had a young son. However, Harper denied agreeing to have his image and likeness used to promote FanDuel or encourage what seemed to be excessive gambling behavior. He stated that he was unaware of Thompson's situation when he recorded the video. FanDuel obtained the video from Cameo, a platform that pays celebrities to make recordings and lets customers create custom videos. Celebrities still maintain control over who receives their videos. In hindsight, had I understood FanDuel's actual purpose, I wouldn't have made the video. This would have been equally true if I had known about Terry or his circumstances, or any supposed 'partnership' between Cameo and FanDuel, Harper clarified in a statement.
Thompson pursues litigation against FanDuel over major losses
Harper firmly denied giving consent for his image and likeness to be used for these purposes and expressed his confusion over FanDuel's actions. FanDuel, on their end, emphasized their commitment to promoting responsible gambling and customer protection. In a statement, they highlighted that, unlike offshore sportsbooks, their staff is trained to identify signs of problem gambling. Currently, Thompson has filed a lawsuit against FanDuel, alleging he lost $1.52 million at their sportsbooks. This litigation also names other companies like DraftKings. Although the original video was recorded in November 2024, it only recently garnered attention.
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