FanDuel has pushed back against calls from three US lawmakers to shut down its VIP programme following concerns over customer protection and responsible gambling.
The operator responded on 14 August in a letter seen by journalist Bill Speros, insisting VIP customers face the same safeguards as all other users and actually receive additional oversight.
The letter was authored by SVP of public policy and sustainability Cory Fox and addressed Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Reps. Paul Tonko of New York and Valerie Foushee of North Carolina.
The lawmakers had written to FanDuel four days earlier, raising concerns about a VIP relationship involving customer Terry Thompson, who they said had a gambling addiction.
At the centre of the controversy was a personalised Thanksgiving video from Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, which a FanDuel VIP manager arranged for Thompson in late 2024.
Harper referenced Thompson’s son in the message and wished him an “extra special Thanksgiving,” though Harper later said he was unaware the video was connected to a sportsbook VIP arrangement.
The lawmakers said Thompson wagered $18.5m through FanDuel, lost more than $1.5m, took multiple mortgages against his home, and sold business shares.
They argued that VIP host relationships cultivate personal bonds with high-spending bettors, potentially encouraging further gambling among people already trying to stop.
FanDuel firmly rejected the suggestion that VIP status weakens customer protections, describing the programme as a customer-service tier operating within its broader responsible gambling framework.
The company clarified that VIP account managers are salaried employees whose pay is not linked to customer betting volume or outcomes, removing any financial incentive to encourage excessive wagering.
Before issuing a VIP invitation, FanDuel said it reviews account history including responsible gambling notes, fraud history, chargebacks, and past VIP participation.
VIP managers also receive additional responsible gambling training and must use faster internal escalation channels when a customer’s behaviour raises concerns, according to the letter.
FanDuel said managers discuss its MySpend dashboard, spending limits, timeouts, and self-exclusion options directly with VIP customers, and that every manager email includes responsible gambling language and links to those tools.
The operator noted that any customer who reports a gambling problem or addiction is permanently excluded from all FanDuel products immediately.
Fox stated: “FanDuel goes well beyond what state regulations require because we believe that setting the industry benchmark for responsible operations is not only the right thing to do, it is essential to building a sustainable and trusted industry that replaces the illegal one currently operating in the United States.”
He also wrote: “FanDuel contributes to problem gambling research and invests in responsible gambling tools on our platform,” adding the company is “committed to operating in an accountable and transparent manner.”
FanDuel reported that 3.5 million customers used its MySpend tool during the 2024-25 NFL season, and the company launched its Play with a Plan campaign in January 2026.
Parent company Flutter Entertainment spent $158m on responsible gambling last year, with FanDuel currently operating licensed online sportsbooks across 26 US jurisdictions.
The dispute has since expanded beyond FanDuel, with Blumenthal, Tonko, and Foushee separately asking MLB and its players’ union to ban players from creating personalised sportsbook marketing tied to VIP schemes.
