The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is reviewing comments made by Bill Simmons regarding the use of his daughter's boyfriend to place bets on his FanDuel account. MGC spokesman Thomas Mills stated, "The Commission is aware of the comments made on the Bill Simmons Podcast and staff are currently reviewing the matter."
During a discussion on his podcast about AFC win total bets, Simmons, founder of The Ringer and former ESPN columnist, disclosed that he had asked his daughter's boyfriend, Hank, to log into his FanDuel account while he was in California, where sports betting is illegal. Simmons provided Hank with an authentication code sent to his phone to access the account and place wagers in Massachusetts, where sports betting is legal.
Simmons remarked, "He’s putting in bets for me, and honestly, it was the closest I’ve ever felt to Hank. It’s a real bonding moment for us." He indicated that this was not a one-time event, saying, "A week later, [I] called him up, ran it back. We did some more."
FanDuel, which is The Ringer’s exclusive sports betting partner, responded to the situation by stating, "We became aware of the issue and 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."
According to Massachusetts regulations, sportsbooks must prevent customers from placing wagers as agents or proxies for others. Individuals betting on behalf of another person may be classified as a "prohibited person" under state gaming rules. FanDuel's terms specify that accounts are for personal use only and prohibit customers from wagering on behalf of someone else or allowing others to access their account. The sportsbook warns that proxy betting can lead to permanent account suspension and forfeiture of winnings. The Ringer did not respond to requests for comment from The Post.