A Philadelphia Inquirer investigation shows how betting companies keep their biggest losers hooked — bad for gamblers, and a black eye for FanDuel and the athletes it uses.

• A FanDuel "VIP host" got Bryce Harper to record a personal thank-you video for Terry Thompson, a gambler who lost $1.5 million and nearly killed himself.
• Thompson is now suing FanDuel and DraftKings, saying they fed his addiction with gifts like champagne, Super Bowl tickets, and the Harper video.
• Harper denies knowing FanDuel was involved, claiming the host just paid $899 for a Cameo video — but the script he read named FanDuel directly.
• Betting firms make most of their money from a tiny share of heavy losers, so "hosts" shower these "whales" with perks to keep them betting.
• Legal gambling is spreading fast — Illinois gamblers lost $7.7 billion last year, and an estimated 1 million residents are now problem gamblers or at risk.

Outlook: The lawsuit will keep pressure on FanDuel and DraftKings, but with states hooked on gambling tax revenue, little is likely to change soon.