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MLB Stars Tied to Gambling Ads Face Congressional Scrutiny
11 Aug
Summary
- Lawmakers want MLB and players' union to ban betting operator promotions.
- A sportsbook used a Bryce Harper video, leading to a lawsuit.
- Congress questions if current MLB rules protect vulnerable fans.
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has called for an immediate halt to promotional partnerships between Major League Baseball (MLB), the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), and sports betting operators. This demand stems from a concerning incident where a sportsbook sent a personalized video message featuring Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper to a VIP gambler.
The gambler subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging that the sportsbook took advantage of his gambling addiction. While Harper has stated he was unaware of how the video would be used or the circumstances surrounding the customer, the incident has prompted significant congressional action. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, along with Representatives Paul Tonko and Valerie Foushee, penned a letter to MLB and the MLBPA, expressing grave concerns.
Their letter highlights worries that current MLB regulations permit the exploitation of personalized player content to potentially drive vulnerable fans into debt and addiction. The lawmakers emphasized that this issue requires direct attention, particularly as both MLB and the MLBPA are in the process of renegotiating their collective bargaining agreement. The current agreement allows players to engage in promotional deals with betting operators, provided their likeness is not used to promote betting on baseball games.
Sources indicate that the MLBPA is considering removing these restrictions during the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations. The congressional letter concluded by posing five questions to the league and union, requesting a response by August 24. Both Major League Baseball and the MLBPA declined to comment on the letter.
