Congressional Democrats Claim FanDuel VIP Program Is ‘Promoting Addiction’

Three Democratic members of Congress have renewed their inquiry into how FanDuel runs its invite-only VIP program after the lawmakers found the sportsbook’s response to their earlier questions insufficient. Sen. Richard Blumenthal attends the National Prayer Breakfast on Aug. 23, 2026, in Ukraine. Blumenthal wants more answers from FanDuel regarding its VIP program. (Image: Getty) Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Valerie Foushee (D-NC) want more comprehensive answers and insights regarding how FanDuel offers VIP membership to customers and incentivizes those bettors. We write regarding FanDuel’s failure to substantively answer our Congressional inquiry, and its misleading and incomplete responses regarding its exploitative VIP services and perks. We remain unconvinced that FanDuel is making an active effort to protect bettors from harmful gambling and instead appears to be promoting addiction,” the Democrats wrote in a letter dated Sept. 3. The inquiry comes after FanDuel sent one of its VIP customers a personalized video message from Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper in 2024. The Pennsylvania man claims in a legal filing against the sportsbook that he lost more than $1.5 million gambling on the mobile app. Unanswered Questions Last month, Blumenthal, Tonko, and Foushee demanded answers from FanDuel and suggested the company shut down its VIP program. Cory Fox, FanDuel’s senior vice president of public policy and sustainability, responded by claiming the sportsbook and iGaming operator take “seriously” the company’s “responsibility to operate in a manner that is accountable, transparent, and worthy of the trust our customers and regulators place in us.” Fox, however, provided few specifics on its VIP program, aside from telling the lawmakers that compensation for VIP hosts is not tied to customers’ wagering. Fox claimed that hosts “proactively discuss” responsible gaming tools with their high-volume clients. Blumenthal, Tonko, and Foushee found Fox’s response inadequate. The lawmakers said FanDuel should be transparent and disclose how the operation interacts with VIPs. FanDuel fails to demonstrate any commitment to its customers’ well-being through any meaningful limitations on exploitative and dangerous marketing and business practices,” the letter said. “If FanDuel truly cared about its customers, it would be transparent to Congress about its business practices and put an end to these exploitative tactics.” The Democrats included eight questions, including an ask if FanDuel will suspend or terminate its VIP program. The letter additionally seeks insights about whether VIP hosts are trained to develop personal relationships with their clients to induce more gambling. Harper a Victim Harper denied knowingly participating in the FanDuel VIP scheme. The two-time National League MVP said he’s unaffiliated with the sportsbook and was only completing a Cameo request. “I joined Cameo to engage with fans through paid personalized videos. What happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved. In November 2024, someone identifying themselves only as ‘Bryttanni’ submitted an order through Cameo for 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 on his Instagram stories. “The request included a short script. I read it in good faith. FanDuel then put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion. I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it. Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper said. The post Congressional Democrats Claim FanDuel VIP Program Is ‘Promoting Addiction’ appeared first on Casino.org.