Key Takeaways
- The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is reviewing Simmons’ actions after he discussed proxy betting on his podcast.
- FanDuel voided Simmons’ bets and reported the situation to state regulators.
- Simmons said he did not know proxy betting broke the rules and called it a “lesson learned”.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is reviewing sports media personality Bill Simmons after he admitted to having his daughter’s boyfriend place FanDuel bets for him.
Simmons lives in California, where regulated sports betting is not available. He discussed the arrangement on his podcast, leading FanDuel to void the wagers and Massachusetts regulators to review the situation.
What Simmons Said, And Why It Matters
On a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons explained how he bets in Massachusetts while living in California.
Simmons said he wanted to bet on certain games, including UCLA overs and a Houston market. Since he could not place the bets himself in California, he gave his FanDuel login information to his daughter’s boyfriend.
Simmons also shared the two-factor authentication code sent to his phone, so the bets could be placed through his account.
He described the arrangement as “a real bonding moment” and said they later did it again. However, those comments raised concerns because using another person to place bets on your behalf is known as proxy betting.
MGC Opens Review, FanDuel Acts Swiftly
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission confirmed it was reviewing the situation two days after Simmons discussed it on his podcast.
“The Commission is aware of the comments made on the Bill Simmons Podcast and staff are currently reviewing the matter,” an MGC spokesman said.
FanDuel also took action. The sportsbook voided all wagers connected to the proxy betting and reported the situation to the MGC.
The situation is especially notable because FanDuel is the exclusive sports betting partner of The Ringer, Simmons’ media company.
Proxy betting violates Massachusetts law as well as FanDuel’s terms of service. That gave the sportsbook both regulatory and business reasons to respond quickly.
The Rules Simmons Says He Didn’t Know; His Profile Makes This a High-Visibility Case
Simmons addressed the controversy again during a follow-up podcast episode released Tuesday.
He said he did not realize proxy betting could have consequences in Massachusetts. The state allows online and mobile sports betting, but operators and bettors must follow strict regulations.
“There are some real rules with this stuff,” Simmons said.
He accepted FanDuel’s decision to void the wagers and described the incident as a lesson learned.
However, it remains unclear whether that explanation will satisfy Massachusetts regulators. Not knowing the rules does not necessarily protect someone from possible regulatory consequences.
Simmons is not an unknown bettor. He is one of the most recognizable personalities in sports media.
As of Tuesday, The Bill Simmons Podcast ranked No. 22 overall and No. 2 among sports podcasts on Spotify. Spotify bought The Ringer in 2020 for a reported price of more than $200 million.
Sports betting has also been a regular topic on Simmons’ podcast and across The Ringer.
That makes his public admission about proxy betting more noticeable, especially because his company has an official partnership with FanDuel.
What’s Next
The MGC’s review remains ongoing, and regulators have not announced any formal findings or penalties.
The commission has also not provided a timeline for when its review could be completed.
For the wider US sports betting industry, the situation is a reminder that proxy betting rules can have consequences, even when a well-known media personality is involved.
Massachusetts’ final decision could also provide more clarity on how aggressively regulators plan to handle similar proxy betting violations in the future.
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