Did you know a sportsbook allegedly sent a losing gambler a personal video from his favorite player? That is the allegation at the center of a lawsuit filed March 24, 2026, in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. The plaintiffs, Terry Thompson and Christopher Sage, represented by the Public Health Advocacy Institute, sued FanDuel, DraftKings, and other defendants. Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper is not a defendant in the case — and, as explained below, he says he was used in it without his consent.

What does the lawsuit allege?

The complaint alleges that the sportsbooks offer unreasonably dangerous products intentionally designed to maximize addiction, and that their VIP programs encourage customers showing signs of addiction to keep betting. It alleges that VIP hosts and perks — event tickets, trips, and gifts — were used to keep Thompson betting. According to the complaint, Thompson wagered about $18.5 million on FanDuel between 2020 and 2025, losing approximately $1.52 million there, and lost about $336,000 more on DraftKings. The complaint describes an addiction that deepened to the point of suicidal despair. Those are allegations in a complaint — nothing has been proven.

The Harper video

In November 2024, according to reporting by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Thompson’s FanDuel VIP host ordered a personalized Cameo video from Harper: a 21-second Thanksgiving greeting that addressed Thompson by name and asked about his son. The clip carried a FanDuel logo; Harper wore no FanDuel gear. Harper responded publicly on July 13, 2026. He presents himself this way: the Cameo order looked like a personal holiday request; he says FanDuel added its logo and used the clip as a promotion without his consent; he says he had no idea the recipient was a struggling gambler, and that he would not have recorded the video had he known. Harper is not accused of wrongdoing in the suit.

What do the companies say?

FanDuel denies that the videos were meant to induce gambling. In letters to Congress from Senior Vice President Cory Fox, the company said it reviewed roughly 30 Cameos involving athletes and entertainers sent over about two years, and called them customer-appreciation gestures, not inducements to keep gambling. FanDuel describes its VIP program as a loyalty program like those in other industries, and says it offers responsible-gaming tools and will help close, limit, or suspend accounts when addiction is suspected.

In court, FanDuel and DraftKings have moved to dismiss the case. They argue that Pennsylvania law imposes no general duty on gambling operators to prevent adults from placing legal wagers, and that VIP programs are standard industry practice. That motion is pending — nothing has been decided.

Congress and regulators are asking questions

On August 10, 2026, Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representatives Paul Tonko and Valerie Foushee wrote to FanDuel demanding it end its VIP services. On October 6, 2026, they demanded the roughly 30 celebrity videos, recipients’ gambling histories, and VIP selection criteria. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said on July 10, 2026, that it was reviewing the matter. No regulator has announced any finding of wrongdoing.

A note for Florida readers

FanDuel and DraftKings sportsbooks do not legally operate in Florida. Legal online sports betting in Florida runs through the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Bet under the state compact. The Florida interest in this Pennsylvania case is the consumer-protection principle underneath it: when a company profits from a customer it allegedly knows is addicted, what — if anything — does the law require it to do? That is the question this lawsuit asks a court to answer.

If gambling is hurting you or someone you love, confidential help is available around the clock through the national problem-gambling helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER.

This article is general information about the legal system, not legal advice for a specific case. This was not a Tacher Law case, and this post is commentary on a Pennsylvania lawsuit — not an invitation to bring a gambling claim. Tacher Law offers a free consultation on injury and wrongful-death matters. Call +1 (305) 644-2211. “We make friends by accident.”

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