Blumenthal, Tonko, & Foushee Press Sportsbooks & Prediction Markets on Whether VIP Programs are Fueling Addiction

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Valerie Foushee (D-NC) today demanded answers from major sportsbooks and prediction markets about their VIP programs and other manipulative rewards or promotions. In letters sent today to BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, Fanatics, Kalshi, and Polymarket, Blumenthal, Tonko, and Foushee sought details about the companies’ VIP programs, raising concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable bettors. “As repeated stories from exploited gamblers and media reports have vividly documented, VIP programs are driving the gambling industry’s most susceptible customers into debt and addiction through rewards tied to waging ever-increasing amounts of money. The dangling of perks—which include access to exclusive events, videos from celebrities and athletes, and tickets to the Super Bowl—distract bettors from their financial losses and encourage betting when they otherwise would not,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. The lawmakers continued, “Unsurprisingly, VIP programs have been at the center of controversy in both independent investigations as well as litigation filed by victims of the gambling industry. FanDuel, for instance, offered one of its VIP customers a personal message from Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper at the height of their addiction. In addition, recent reporting from ProPublica revealed that DraftKings rewarded a journalist who imitated clear signs of problem gambling—including chasing losses, placing nonstop microbets, and betting on obscure events—with a VIP membership. Making matters worse, prediction markets are now enticing bettors with similar reward programs.” “It is wholly unacceptable that the gambling industry profits at the expense of its most vulnerable customers’ financial and mental well-being,” the Senators concluded. Blumenthal, Tonko, and Foushee have repeatedly pressed FanDuel about its reported use of celebrity promotional videos to exploit vulnerable consumers and entice addicts to further gamble. Today, the lawmakers are seeking answers about sportsbooks’ and prediction markets’ use of VIP programs, including whether the companies use artificial intelligence to track and target problem gamblers. The text of the lawmakers’ letter to BetMGM is available below. Copies of letters sent today to BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, Fanatics, Kalshi, and Polymarket are available here . Dear Mr. Greenblatt, We write regarding the gambling industry’s widely documented exploitation of vulnerable bettors through predatory VIP programs. We are deeply concerned that BetMGM may be exploiting these individuals through BetMGM Rewards, its VIP program, and write to demand answers about this program, as well as any other manipulative rewards or promotions. As repeated stories from exploited gamblers and media reports have vividly documented, VIP programs are driving the gambling industry’s most susceptible customers into debt and addiction through rewards tied to waging ever increasing amounts of money. The dangling of perks—which include access to exclusive events, videos from celebrities and athletes, and tickets to the Super Bowl—distract bettors from their financial losses and encourage betting when they otherwise would not. [1] Gambling companies are even using artificial intelligence to identify and target gamblers on a losing streak with promotions to continue reckless gambling. [2] In addition, gambling companies often assign these bettors an account manager to coordinate VIP perks. These managers further fuel the gambling industry’s exploitation by pushing rewards and non-stop promotions to bettors who exhibit clear signs of gambling addiction, even messaging them up to 100 times a day. [3] Unsurprisingly, VIP programs have been at the center of controversy in both independent investigations as well as litigation filed by victims of the gambling industry. FanDuel, for instance, offered one of its VIP customers a personal message from Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper at the height of their addiction. In addition, recent reporting from ProPublica revealed that DraftKings rewarded a journalist who imitated clear signs of problem gambling—including chasing losses, placing nonstop microbets, and betting on obscure events—with a VIP membership. [4] Making matters worse, prediction markets are now enticing bettors with similar reward programs. For example, Kalshi launched its Platinum program to offer VIP customers with perks including merchandise, access to special events, and account managers. [5] This is especially concerning considering that prediction markets are actively flouting safeguards established by state gambling authorities and offering their products in states where sports betting is not legal. It is wholly unacceptable that the gambling industry profits at the expense of its most vulnerable customers’ financial and mental well-being. Given the clear harms stemming from VIP programs such as BetMGM Rewards, we demand answers to the following questions no later than November 5, 2026: Please provide the following information about enrollment and participation in BetMGM Rewards: How many bettors are enrolled in BetMGM Rewards? What is the average loss/gain of bettors in BetMGM Rewards over the six-month period prior to being enrolled in the program? What is the average loss/gain of bettors in BetMGM Rewards after being enrolled in the program? How many bettors in BetMGM Rewards have attempted to cut back their betting activity or close their accounts but were instead offered exclusive perks or offers? How many decided to keep betting after such offers? How much does BetMGM earn in revenue from its VIP program? Please fully list the perks, offers, and services that BetMGM has provided bettors in BetMGM Rewards, including whether it has ever sent videos from players or other celebrities to its customers to keep them engaged in gambling on the platform? Please describe the review process customers must undergo before BetMGM offers them a VIP membership, including if BetMGM evaluates: the total amount the customer had wagered beforehand and the amount that they had won or lost; whether the customer had ever requested to suspend their account, pause notifications, or take action to limit their gambling on the platform; whether the customer had ever exhibited any signs of problem gambling, regardless of if they sought help; whether the customer had exhibited significant financial losses or economic hardship. Does BetMGM ever coach or train its VIP managers to develop personal relationships with their clients in order to encourage more gambling? Does BetMGM use artificial intelligence to track and target gamblers with perks and predatory promotions? If so, please describe how AI is used in this manner and what data about a bettor is used for these purposes. Thank you for your attention to this matter. -30- [1] David Gambacorta, “FanDuel Sent a Personal Message from Phillies Star Bryce Harper to a Customer with a Gambling Addiction,” Inquirer.Com, The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 9, 2026, https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/bryce-harper-fanduel-vip-video-gambling-addiction-20260709.html . [2] Alex Klavens et al., “How DraftKings Uses A.I. To Target the Gamblers Likeliest to Lose,” The New York Times , September 19, 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/19/business/draftkings-ai.html . [3] Anna Betts, “US Gambling Giants Face Scrutiny over VIP Programs: ‘Profits Take Priority over People’,” The Guardian, The Guardian, February 22, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/22/sports-betting-vip-programs . [4] Jake Pearson and Chris Alcantara, “I Deliberately Bet Like a Problem Gambler. DraftKings Made Me a VIP.,” ProPublica, September 26, 2026, https://www.propublica.org/article/draftkings-sports-gambling-problem-vip-fanduel . [5] Matthew Waters, “Kalshi Adds VIP Program For ‘Most Loyal’ Traders,” Legal Sports Report, January 6, 2026, https://www.legalsportsreport.com/250753/kalshi-adds-vip-program-for-most-loyal-traders/ .