07/13/26 04:16:00
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07/13 16:14 CDT Bryce Harper says FanDuel used his Cameo video as VIP reward
without consent in a gambler's case
Bryce Harper says FanDuel used his Cameo video as VIP reward without consent in
a gambler's case
PHILADELPHIA (AP) --- Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper said he did
not know a Cameo video he recorded would be used by FanDuel as a reward for a
VIP customer who later sued the sportsbook, saying it took advantage of his
gambling addiction.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week that a fan named Terry Thompson
had wagered $18.5 million with FanDuel and was eventually rewarded with a
personalized video from Harper.
In the video, Harper addressed the fan by name and even mentioned the man's
young son. Harper shared a screenshot Monday of the request on Cameo, an app
that allows users to pay celebrities to record custom videos.
"Had I known FanDuel's true intent, I would not have made the video," Harper
said. "The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation."
The Inquirer reported Thompson lost $1.5 million, according to a lawsuit that
the Public Health Advocacy Institute filed in March in Common Pleas Court in
Philadelphia on behalf of Thompson and against FanDuel and DraftKings. Thompson
also was reported to have lost money to DraftKings.
The video was marked with FanDuel's logo. Harper said in the video he reached
out at the request of Thomson's VIP manager on the site, "your host Bryttanni
at FanDuel."
Harper addressed the situation on a social media post Monday, hours ahead of
his scheduled participation in the Home Run Derby.
"I did not know FanDuel would do this," Harper wrote. "I did not consent to it,
and FanDuel had no right to do it."
Asked for comment, FanDuel said it was "committed to fostering a culture of
responsible gaming and protecting our customers.
"Unlike illegal offshore sportsbooks, FanDuel employees are trained to
recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools, and
we continue to review and strengthen our policies to ensure we have the
industry's strongest consumer protection initiatives."
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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