Bill Simmons, founder of The Ringer and a FanDuel partner, has admitted to violating sportsbook and Massachusetts gambling regulations by proxy betting on the platform. Simmons confessed on his podcast that he used his daughter's boyfriend, Hank, to place bets for him while Simmons was in California, where online sports betting is not legal, and Hank was in Massachusetts, where FanDuel operates.
Simmons explained that he would receive a code to his phone to verify his identity, then provide it to Hank, who would log into Simmons' FanDuel account and place the wagers. He described the arrangement as a "bonding moment" and stated that they repeated the process a week later. Simmons indicated he had a significant amount of money in his account from successfully betting on futures the previous year.
FanDuel's terms of service explicitly prohibit customers from allowing others to access their accounts or wagering on behalf of a third party. Such actions are classified as proxy betting and can lead to account suspension and forfeiture of winnings. Massachusetts regulations further detail these prohibitions, classifying a person acting as a proxy as a "prohibited person" and requiring the cancellation of wagers and confiscation of funds. State law also mandates the suspension of an account if evidence suggests the account holder has violated terms of service by permitting another individual to access it.
California is among the U.S. states that have not legalized traditional online sports betting. It remains to be seen if FanDuel or the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will investigate Simmons' admission or take any disciplinary action. IMAGE4 An image shows Simmons asking his daughter's boyfriend to place bets on FanDuel in Massachusetts.