FanDuel responds to lawmakers about its VIP program and Cameo after internal review
Firm defended 30 Cameo videos and its intervention protocol in a 20 Oct 2026 letter.
Key Takeaways
- FanDuel reviewed roughly thirty Cameo videos and sent a response letter on 20 October 2026 to members of Congress.
- The congressional inquiry began in July 2026 after reports about a Cameo video featuring Bryce Harper addressed to a VIP customer who later sued sportsbooks.
- Cory Fox, FanDuel’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Sustainability, said the VIP program is a loyalty scheme subject to responsible-gambling and advertising standards.
- FanDuel told lawmakers it intervenes—closing accounts, suspending access, or directing customers to GameSense—when it suspects developing addiction.
- Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representatives Valerie Foushee and Paul Tonko received FanDuel’s letter; Blumenthal and Tonko co-sponsor the SAFE Bet Act.
FanDuel reviewed approximately thirty Cameo videos and sent a letter on 20 October 2026 to the senators and representatives probing its VIP program, arguing that the recordings were gestures of appreciation to customers and not incentives to bet. The correspondence responds to an inquiry opened in July following press reports about a Cameo video featuring Bryce Harper addressed to a VIP customer who later sued several sportsbooks.
What FanDuel said in the letter
The response letter was signed by Cory Fox, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Sustainability at FanDuel. Fox explained that the VIP program was designed "to provide enhanced service and encourage customers who choose to bet to use FanDuel rather than another platform." He added that personalized gestures, including Cameo videos, are subject to the same strict responsible-gambling and advertising standards as other campaigns.
FanDuel said its primary objective is to maintain a healthy customer base that enjoys wagering at appropriate levels rather than to maximize individual activity. The company compared the program's benefits to loyalty schemes in other industries, citing examples such as frequent-flier mile-style perks or hospitality rewards.
Background of the case and the lawsuit
The congressional inquiry began in July 2026 after press reports about a video in which Philadelphia Phillies player Bryce Harper wished a VIP customer a happy Thanksgiving and mentioned the customer’s son by name. That customer, according to reports, suffered from gambling addiction and substantial financial losses; he later filed lawsuits against multiple sportsbooks alleging that VIP hosts encouraged destructive betting behavior.
In a letter dated 6 October 2026, lawmakers demanded full disclosure of the videos and argued that VIP benefits could exploit vulnerable bettors. The legislators who received FanDuel's response are Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representatives Valerie Foushee and Paul Tonko.
Compliance and intervention tools
FanDuel said that when it suspects the development of an addiction it intervenes actively by closing accounts, suspending wagering access, or directing players to support resources, explicitly listing the GameSense tool as one option. The company emphasized that personalized benefits and marketing materials comply with state regulatory oversight.
Federal legislative context
The correspondence arrives amid debate over federal regulation of sports betting in the United States. Senators Blumenthal and Tonko are co-authors of the SAFE Bet Act, legislation proposing federal rules, a ban on sports advertising, and strict affordability checks. Since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2018 left regulation to the states, federal initiatives have progressed unevenly, but congressional scrutiny of VIP practices and consumer safety remains high.
By Miguel Sandoval, Corresponsal de regulación.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Cameo videos did FanDuel review and when did it respond to Congress?
FanDuel reviewed approximately thirty Cameo videos and responded in a letter sent on 20 October 2026. The review and the letter form part of the exchange with Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representatives Valerie Foushee and Paul Tonko.
What did FanDuel claim about the nature of the Cameo videos?
FanDuel said the videos were gestures of appreciation for customers, not commissioned incentives to induce betting. Cory Fox stated these gestures are subject to the same responsible-gambling and advertising standards as other campaigns.
What actions did FanDuel say it takes when it suspects a customer is developing an addiction?
FanDuel said it intervenes by closing accounts, suspending wagering access, or directing customers to support resources such as GameSense when it suspects an addiction developing. The company outlined these actions in its 20 October 2026 letter.
What prompted the congressional inquiry into FanDuel’s VIP program?
The investigation began in July 2026 after press reports about a Cameo video in which Bryce Harper addressed a VIP customer by name; that customer later filed lawsuits alleging gambling-related harms and losses, which led legislators to seek further information.
Tags
About the author
Miguel Sandoval
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Miguel Sandoval tracks gambling legislation, licensing, and regulator enforcement — from Spain's DGOJ and the Latin American authorities to the UKGC, the MGA, and the state-by-state map in North America. The reports answer three questions precisely — what changed, where, and who it affects — with jurisdictions, dates, and penalties cited exactly as published. Operators and compliance officers read Miguel Sandoval to know which rulebook moved before their next meeting.
More from Miguel Sandoval
