The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is reviewing comments made by Bill Simmons, founder of The Ringer, in which he admitted to using his daughter's boyfriend to place sports bets on his FanDuel account. The practice, known as proxy betting, occurred while Simmons was in California, a state where sports betting is illegal, and the bets were placed in Massachusetts.
Simmons, a former ESPN columnist, detailed the arrangement on his podcast, stating he provided his daughter's boyfriend, identified as Hank, with a FanDuel authentication code to access his account and place wagers. He described the situation as a "bonding moment" and indicated it was not a one-time occurrence.
FanDuel, which has an exclusive sports betting partnership with The Ringer, confirmed it has taken action following Simmons' comments. In a statement, the sportsbook said it "handled it consistent with our Terms and Conditions and Massachusetts Gaming Commission regulations, including reporting the matter to the MGC, voiding the bets, and actioning the account."
Massachusetts regulations stipulate that sportsbooks must prevent customers from acting as agents or proxies for others. Individuals who wager on behalf of another person can also be designated as a "prohibited person" under state gaming rules. FanDuel's terms of service also prohibit customers from wagering on behalf of another person or allowing someone else to access their account, warning that such violations can lead to account suspension and forfeiture of winnings.