FanDuel recently used a Cameo video of Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper as a reward for a VIP customer, who later sued the operator. However, the MLB star explained that, had he known the video would be used in this way, he would not have made it.
Harper Explains He Didn’t Know the Video Would Be Used by FanDuel
Recently, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that FanDuel rewarded customer Terry Thompson with a personalized Cameo video from Bryce Harper after the former wagered $18.5 million with the sportsbook. In the video, Harper addressed Thompson by name and also mentioned his young son.
However, on Monday, Harper shared a screenshot of the original Cameo request, from which FanDuel obtained the video as part of its partnership with the company. Cameo is a platform that allows users to purchase personalized video messages from celebrities and athletes. In his statement, Harper said he has been recording Cameo videos for years and received a request from someone identified as “Bryttanni” in November 2024 for a personalized holiday message for Thompson.
According to Harper, the request was not submitted under Cameo’s business category, leaving him unaware that the video would be used for commercial purposes. He said what happened went beyond anything he knew about or approved of. The video features a FanDuel logo, and Harper tells the recipient that their host, Bryttanni from FanDuel, wanted to make sure their (Thompson’s) Thanksgiving was “extra special.” Harper said he was simply reading from the script provided with the request.
Why is This a Problem?
The issue stems from a betting scandal that Harper is involved in. Thompson, the recipient of the video, recently sued multiple sportsbooks, alleging that microbetting and predatory practices fueled his gambling addiction, ultimately leading him to lose $1.52 million on FanDuel.
According to the lawsuit, the accused sportsbooks “knowingly and intentionally” use customer data to encourage high-value bettors to place large wagers through targeted microbets, such as bets on the outcome of individual pitches in MLB games. Thompson said he wagered about $18.5 million with FanDuel, earning VIP status and receiving perks including Super Bowl tickets. He also said he lost more than $330,000 on DraftKings.
According to the lawsuit, Thompson ultimately foreclosed on his home after taking out multiple mortgages and sold his ownership stake in a company he had been part of for two decades to cover his gambling losses.
In other news regarding FanDuel, the company recently collaborated with Playtech to launch a new online poker network in North America.