Congress Demands MLB Address Sportsbook Endorsement Policies

Three members of Congress have requested Major League Baseball and its players union to strengthen gambling endorsement rules following an incident involving a Bryce Harper video and an addicted bettor. Lawmakers sent a three-page letter demanding answers by August 24 regarding sportsbook partnerships and player endorsements.

What Happened

Three members of Congress, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressman Paul Tonko, and Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, sent a letter to Major League Baseball (MLB) and the players union on August 11, 2026, demanding tighter policies regarding gambling endorsements, according to the Los Angeles Times. This action was prompted by an incident involving Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Bryce Harper, FanDuel, and an admitted gambling addict named Terry Thompson.

The incident centered on a personalized 21-second video Harper created for FanDuel, which he stated he would not have made had he known it was allegedly intended to entice Thompson to continue gambling. Thompson, who sued FanDuel, its VIP host Bryttanni Morgan, DraftKings, and the NFL in March, claims to have lost approximately $1.6 million after betting an estimated $18.5 million over four years, reportedly due to predatory practices by sportsbooks. Harper indicated he received the request via Cameo in November 2024 for a “holiday video for Terry.”

Key Details

• Congress members sent a three-page letter to MLB and the players union requesting an end to policies enabling “predatory promotion” by sportsbooks, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
• The letter specifically cited an incident where a personalized video from MLB player Bryce Harper was used by FanDuel to target an admitted gambling addict.
• MLB rules currently permit players to enter endorsement deals with sportsbooks, provided they do not encourage betting on baseball, reportedly allowing for personalized content that could lead to financial distress for vulnerable fans.
• The Congressional letter posed five questions to MLB and the MLBPA, requesting responses by August 24, including their position on player endorsements with sportsbooks and measures to ensure fan safety over revenue.
• Terry Thompson, the individual targeted by the Harper video, sued FanDuel and DraftKings in March, alleging the sportsbooks fostered addiction and caused him to lose significant funds.
• FanDuel stated its commitment to responsible gaming and asserted its employees are trained to recognize problem gambling signs, reportedly issuing this statement after an investigative story about the Harper video was published by the Philadelphia Inquirer on July 9.

Why It Matters

This Congressional intervention highlights increasing scrutiny on the partnerships between professional sports leagues and sports betting operators, particularly concerning player endorsements and VIP marketing programs. The incident involving Bryce Harper and an alleged gambling addict underscores concerns about player involvement in promotional activities and the potential impact on vulnerable individuals, challenging the adequacy of existing policies that permit such endorsements outside of direct baseball betting.

The call for MLB and the players union to confront these issues during ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, which began in May and are expected to continue through December 1, indicates a potential shift in how player endorsements and sportsbook partnerships are regulated. This development suggests that policy changes regarding gambling affiliations may be considered for inclusion in future collective bargaining agreements, potentially altering the landscape of sports betting marketing within regulated markets.

What’s Next

MLB and the players union have been requested to provide answers to the five questions posed by Congress by August 24. These questions concern their stance on player endorsements with sportsbooks, strategies to prioritize fan safety over gambling revenue, the adequacy of current policies to prevent predatory VIP programs, plans for player education on promotion risks, and whether personalized marketing campaigns by sportsbooks will be prohibited for players, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Originally reported by Los Angeles Times·Published 11 Aug 2026, 16:23