George

A man lost $2 MILLION gambling on FanDuel. The company’s VIP team sent him a personalized Thanksgiving video from his favorite baseball player, Bryce Harper, to keep him betting. – Terry Thompson, a Pennsylvania bettor, wagered approximately $18.5 MILLION through FanDuel’s VIP program and lost $2 MILLION. – FanDuel treated him like a high-value customer, arranging Super Bowl trips, champagne and a dedicated VIP host to manage his experience. – In late 2024, his VIP host arranged something more personal. – Thompson received a Thanksgiving video from Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper through Cameo. – Harper addressed Thompson directly and even mentioned his son. – But this wasn’t just a celebrity greeting. Thompson alleges it was part of FanDuel’s efforts to keep him gambling despite his mounting losses. – This is how betting platforms elevate losers with VIP programs. The more someone loses, the more valuable they can become to the platform. – Thompson had sold his finance company and taken out additional mortgages to keep funding his bets. – By February 2026, he had reached the point of wagering his final $10,000 on a DraftKings parlay. – Harper has since said he had no idea the video was connected to a struggling gambler or being used to encourage further betting. He says he would never have participated if he had known. – Thompson sued FanDuel and DraftKings in Philadelphia, accusing both companies of knowingly exploiting his gambling addiction. – Both companies are fighting the lawsuit, arguing they had no legal obligation to stop him from placing lawful bets and that VIP programs are standard industry practice. – In August 2026, U.S. lawmakers sent formal letters demanding that FanDuel terminate its VIP program, citing Thompson’s case and raising concerns about how vulnerable gamblers are targeted. FanDuel allegedly watched a man lose $2 MILLION, then sent him a personalized video from his favorite baseball player. Harper says he had no idea what the video was really being used for.