FanDuel, Bryce Harper video to losing gambler reinforces the greed of the MLB, sportsbooks and the union
A disturbing new report from The Philadelphia Inquirer reveals that FanDuel used a personalized video of Phillies shortstop Bryce Harper to target an online gambling addict.
The video, sent directly to customer Terry Thompson by FanDuel VIP manager “Bryttanni,” features Harper wishing the gambler a happy Thanksgiving, greeting his young son and thanking him for his years of support.
Thompson was no ordinary fan; He was a problem gambler who placed a staggering $18.5 million bet on FanDuel and lost $1.5 million. Instead of intercepting him, FanDuel gave Thompson the VIP treatment, showering him with champagne and Super Bowl tickets while arming Harper, the two-time NL MVP.
MLB PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION OFFERS VERY CHEAP SPORTS BETTING IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS
Philadelphia Phillies 1B Bryce Harper throws the ball toward first base against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Wisconsin. (Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)
This disgusting statement brings us back to the Major League Baseball Players Association’s recent ridiculous collective bargaining proposals. Last month, I pointed out the union’s hypocrisy in demanding a larger share of sports betting revenue while trying to protect itself from the realities of the gambling market.
During those CBA negotiations, the union eagerly sought clarity on how players could secure lucrative endorsement deals with sports betting sites. We’re now seeing exactly what these corporate partnerships look like in practice: using the sport’s best-known players as high-level retention tools to squeeze millions of desperate people.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred presents the Allan H. Sales Award for philanthropic excellence during the 2022 MLB Winter Meetings at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. (Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images)
The MLBPA also complained about players being harassed by angry bettors, even pushing for a ban on player endorsements. But they remain completely silent when their multibillion-dollar sports betting partners aggressively target and manipulate real addicts, using a superstar to drag a defenseless father deeper into the gambling hole.
MLB OWNERS HAVE ALREADY WITHDRAWED PLAYERS’ ORIGINAL CBA OFFER AS BUSINESS STOP IS IMPOSED AFTER 2026 SEASON
There’s also an absolute joke about the “honesty” of baseball. The union allegedly pushed for a lenient 15-day minor league “rehabilitation mandate” for players who placed illegal bets on baseball. It seems the union wants to coddle those who break the rules, while the league’s official betting partners are actively exploiting casual fans in the background.
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Bryce Harper stands on the deck before an inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
Harper’s video exposes the hypocrisy of these sports betting partnerships with leagues and players. All-Stars are used in predatory marketing schemes, proving that the union is too busy chasing betting money to protect the reputation of its players or the welfare of fans.
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MLB and the union like to plaster “responsible gaming” logos on every broadcast to pretend they care about the human cost. But this video shows that the entire ecosystem is a dishonest and greedy mess. It’s time to decide what’s more important to baseball: money or fans.
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