Bill Simmons, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast and founder of The Ringer, is under review by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) after admitting on his September 1 podcast episode that he had another person place bets on his FanDuel account. Simmons said he directed the individual, identified on the podcast only as his daughter’s boyfriend, to log into his account and place wagers on his behalf, including bets on UCLA and Houston, while Simmons was in California, where sports betting is not legal.
Massachusetts state regulations require sportsbook operators to prevent wagers placed as agents or proxies for other account holders, a prohibition set out under 205 CMR 248.00, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s sports wagering account management regulation. FanDuel’s own account terms similarly restrict use of an account to its registered holder, with violations carrying penalties up to permanent suspension and forfeiture of funds.
MGC spokesman Thomas Mills confirmed the commission’s review in a statement, saying: “The Commission is aware of the comments made on the Bill Simmons Podcast and staff are currently reviewing the matter.” The commission has not indicated a timeline for concluding its review or announced any findings.
FanDuel has taken action against the account tied to Simmons following the podcast comments, though the operator did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the specifics of that action. Neither FanDuel nor The Ringer had issued a public statement on the matter at time of writing.
Compliance Implications for Operators
Proxy betting prohibitions are a standard feature of regulated US sportsbook compliance frameworks, designed to preserve the integrity of identity verification, responsible gambling controls, and geolocation requirements that underpin state-licensed wagering. A public admission of proxy betting by a high-profile account holder places renewed attention on how operators monitor and enforce these restrictions, and on the scope of regulatory consequences when a violation becomes public rather than being flagged internally.
The MGC’s review will determine whether any further compliance or enforcement action follows, either against Simmons’ account or, more broadly, with respect to FanDuel’s monitoring obligations under its Massachusetts sports wagering license.