FanDuel Used Bryce Harper Video Message to Reward Bettor Who Wagered $18.5 Million Amid Gambling Addiction

A Philadelphia Inquirer investigation has revealed that FanDuel Sportsbook sent a personalized Bryce Harper video message to a VIP customer who wagered $18.5 million on the platform before being diagnosed with a gambling addiction. Terry Thompson, of Montgomery County, received the Thanksgiving clip in November 2024, with the Phillies star greeting him by name and mentioning his young son.

Thompson’s gambling began in the fall of 2020 with a bet on the Philadelphia Eagles. He soon shifted into microbetting, wagering on the outcome of individual plays and quarters in real time. Over the following years he wagered more than $22 million combined on FanDuel and DraftKings, losing over $1.8 million before checking himself into a psychiatric facility, where he was diagnosed with a gambling addiction.

Champagne, Concert Tickets and a Superstar’s Voice

According to a lawsuit filed in March by the Public Health Advocacy Institute, FanDuel assigned Thompson a personal VIP host who sent him a $500 bottle of champagne and tickets to Eagles, Flyers and Sixers games. When Thompson hit a rough patch in 2021, the host allegedly followed up with betting credits and encouragement to keep wagering. By January 2023, the host was offering Super Bowl LVII tickets and hotel accommodations in Arizona.

The Harper video fit into that pattern of escalating rewards. In it, Harper says, “Hey, Terry. What’s up, brother? Your host Bryttanni from FanDuel wanted to make sure your Thanksgiving was extra special,” before sending a personal greeting to Thompson’s son. FanDuel has not confirmed whether Harper has a formal endorsement deal with the company, and there is no evidence the ballplayer knew about Thompson’s addiction.

A Broader Legal Fight Over VIP Programs

The lawsuit against FanDuel and DraftKings alleges the companies built products designed to maximize compulsive betting, pointing to constant push notifications and increasingly personal outreach that continued even as bettors showed clear signs of financial trouble. Thompson is one of two plaintiffs in the case, both of whom claim the sportsbooks simulated personal friendships to keep them gambling.

The revelations arrive as sportsbook VIP programs face growing scrutiny from state regulators and public health advocates nationwide, with critics arguing the industry’s most aggressive retention tactics are increasingly targeting the customers who can least afford to keep playing. Thompson remains in treatment for his gambling addiction.