Massachusetts has blocked thousands of underage sportsbook registration attempts, but regulators remain concerned about young people finding ways to gamble. Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) Chair Jordan Maynard raised concerns about illegal proxy betting during a congressional hearing on Nov. 11, warning about the risks of people using someone else’s account. His appearance comes just days after the MGC ordered a hearing into FanDuel’s handling of proxy bets linked to Bill Simmons.
Maynard testified before the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development during a hearing focused on sports gambling among college students. His written testimony highlighted that sportsbooks have prevented at least 11,000 attempts by underage users to open accounts in Massachusetts.
He also cited research from Boston University showing that approximately 22% of sportsbook users in college in Massachusetts were under 21, compared with 34% nationally. Those findings suggest age restrictions alone aren’t enough to keep young people away from betting platforms.
One concern is proxy betting, which involves using another person’s account or information to place bets. Someone under 21 might ask an older sibling or friend to wager for them, allowing them to get around the restrictions that would otherwise prevent access.
Massachusetts has introduced several protections for college students, including a ban on individual college player prop bets and restrictions on sportsbook advertising on campuses. However, those rules are harder to enforce when someone places wagers through another person’s account.
The MGC ordered a hearing into FanDuel’s handling of Bill Simmons’ wagers on Nov. 5. Regulators are reviewing 22 bets totalling $21,800 that were allegedly placed on Simmons’ behalf while he was in California.
Simmons previously discussed having his daughter’s boyfriend place wagers for him from Massachusetts, where online sports betting is legal. California doesn’t allow regulated online sportsbooks, which raises an issue in relation to Massachusetts’ proxy betting rules.
FanDuel reported the activity to regulators, voided the wagers, and took action against Simmons’ account. The commission still wants to examine whether FanDuel had sufficient safeguards and how it handled the situation after learning about the bets.
The commission has completed a preliminary review, but the investigation remains open. Regulators haven’t determined whether FanDuel violated state law or if any further enforcement is required.
Under Massachusetts sports betting law, operators must use commercially reasonable methods to prevent proxy wagers. That responsibility is more than just verifying someone’s age and location when they register for an account.
Maynard highlighted the state’s enforcement record during his testimony. Since legal sports betting launched in 2023, Massachusetts has taken 39 enforcement actions resulting in more than $1 million in penalties. Operators have also returned nearly $10 million to customers because of errors for which they were responsible.
Sportsbooks that fail to comply with state regulations can face financial penalties, while individuals involved in proxy betting could be excluded. The upcoming FanDuel hearing could provide more clarity on consequences. Commissioners want to examine the sportsbook’s handling of the wagers before deciding whether additional action is warranted.
