Bill Simmons Faces FanDuel Action, Massachusetts Review Over Proxy Betting

By jili tutorial · September 3, 2026

Bill Simmons Under Fire: FanDuel Takes Action as Massachusetts Probes Proxy Betting

What started as a casual confession on a popular podcast has escalated into a formal review by state regulators and disciplinary action from a major sportsbook. Bill Simmons, founder of The Ringer, is facing scrutiny from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) after admitting he allowed his daughter’s boyfriend to place bets using his account.

FanDuel has confirmed it voided the wagers in question, reportedly took action against Simmons’ account, and referred the incident to the MGC. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission confirmed to Front Office Sports that staff are currently reviewing the matter.

How Did the Proxy Betting Scheme Come to Light?

The controversy began when Simmons openly described the arrangement on a weekend episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast. He explained that while he was located in California—where sports betting remains illegal—he gave his FanDuel login credentials and an authentication code to his daughter’s boyfriend, referred to only as “Hank,” who was physically in Massachusetts.

“I let Hank log into my FanDuel as me,” Simmons said on the podcast. “I get the code to make sure it’s me to my phone. I give him the code. He logs in.”

By bypassing geolocation controls, Simmons effectively used Hank as a proxy to place wagers from a legal jurisdiction on his behalf.

FanDuel’s Response: Voided Bets and Account Action

FanDuel moved quickly after learning of the comments. A spokesperson for the sportsbook confirmed that the company enforced its terms of service and state regulations.

“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,” the spokesperson told Front Office Sports.

FanDuel did not specify the exact nature of the action taken against Simmons’ account, but terms and conditions for such violations often include permanent suspension and forfeiture of winnings.

Bill Simmons Admits Ignorance of Proxy Betting Rules

Simmons addressed the fallout again on Tuesday, claiming he was unaware that proxy betting was strictly prohibited.

“I talked about how I got my daughter’s boyfriend to place some bets for me in Massachusetts because I was in L.A.,” Simmons explained on his podcast. “I did not know about the proxy rules. Apparently, proxy betting is not allowed. I actually thought it was, but that’s fine… So all those bets went out the window.”

Simmons noted that he wanted to place futures bets on UCLA and the Houston Texans. Since he could not legally wager from California, he directed Hank to use funds already in his FanDuel account from previous winning futures bets. Simmons also revealed that the arrangement was not a one-off, stating, “A week later, called him up and ran it back. We did some more.”

Why Is Proxy Betting a Serious Violation?

FanDuel’s Terms of Service

FanDuel’s user agreement is clear: an account is “solely for your personal use.” The operator strictly prohibits customers from wagering on behalf of a third party or allowing anyone else to access their account. The company defines this as proxy betting and warns that it “may result in a permanent suspension and forfeiture of winnings.”

Massachusetts State Regulations

Massachusetts law reinforces these policies. Licensed sportsbooks are required to use “commercially reasonable methods” to prohibit individuals from placing wagers as agents or proxies for others. Under state regulations, anyone acting as a proxy is considered a prohibited person, and operators must prevent them from wagering and cancel any bets placed under those circumstances.

The MGC’s confirmation of a formal review underscores the seriousness of breach.

What’s Next for Bill Simmons and FanDuel?

The incident carries additional weight due to Simmons’ commercial relationship with FanDuel. Since 2021, the sportsbook has been the exclusive sports-betting partner of The Ringer, the media company Simmons founded.

As of now, neither FanDuel nor the MGC has disclosed whether Simmons will face further penalties beyond the voided wagers and the unspecified account action. The outcome of the MGC’s review could lead to additional fines or restrictions.

This article originally appeared on Gambling Insider.