Three members of Congress are demanding that the MLB and it’s union take action after reports that Bryce Harper was featured in a personalized video that sports betting company FanDuel sent to a man with a gambling addiction. The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported on the video on Thursday, Ju ly 9. In the article, a man who said he lost around $1.5 million on FanDuel bets due to his gambling addiction, claimed the company sent him a personalized video message from Harper. In the video, Harper names the man, acknowledges his son and thanks him for the support, according to the Inquirer. In a letter signed by Senator Richard Bluementhal, Congressman Paul Tonko and Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, they ask Major League Baseball and the league’s player’s union to change their policies so this cannot happen again. The three legislators also ask that the company’s answers a series of questions: As MLB and MLBPA renegotiate their collective bargaining agreement, what is your current position on allowing MLB players to seek endorsements and partnerships from sportsbooks? Note: The MLBPA has publicly announced their intention to seek greater freedom for players to have relationships with gambling companies. How will MLB and the MLBPA guarantee that fan safety and well-being take precedence over revenue from gambling partnerships? Do you believe MLB and MLBPA policies on sportsbook endorsements and partnerships are adequate to prevent engagement with predatory VIP programs? Will the MLB and MLBPA undertake any player education to ensure that players understand the risks their participation in sportsbook promotions poses to fans? Will the MLB and MLBPA prohibit players from participating in personalized marketing campaigns by sportsbooks as part of VIP or tier programs? Bryce Harper addresses FanDuel video On Monday, July 13, hours before he was set to compete in the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby, Harper addressed the article in his Instagram stories. In the message, Harper claimed he had joined the video-sharing website Cameo to engage with fans. He said in November 2024, someone who identified themselves as “Bryttanni” had submitted an order through Cameo asking him to record a personal “holiday video for Terry.” “Cameo had a separate category for business video requests, and at the time I did not know this video would be used for commercial purposes,” Harper wrote. “That request included a short script. I read it in good faith.” Harper claims FanDuel then added its own logo to the video and used it on a gambling promotion without his knowledge or consent. He also claimed he did not know the video would be used for FanDuel’s VIP promotion and denied having any affiliation with FanDuel. “Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper wrote. “The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation, or about any alleged ‘partnership’ between Cameo and FanDuel.” NBC10 reached out to FanDuel who sent a response early Monday evening. “FanDuel is committed to fostering a culture of responsible gaming and protecting our customers,” a spokesperson for the company wrote. “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.” NBC10 has reached out to the MLB and we are waiting to hear back. Phillies Analysis Aug 9 What we learned as Phillies ‘grind' past Jays after 'pen lets lead slip Phillies Analysis Aug 8 Nola joins rare Phillies company, but bullpen lets milestone night slip away Phillies Analysis Aug 8 Phillies start off Alumni Weekend with a dud against Toronto This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less