The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is reviewing comments made by Bill Simmons after the sports media personality admitted that another person placed wagers for him through his FanDuel account. The situation raises questions about proxy betting, which is prohibited under Massachusetts sports betting regulations. It’s another example of the MGC taking an active approach to enforcement to uphold compliance standards.
Simmons discussed the situation during an episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast” while talking about NFL futures with Sal Iacono. Simmons, who lives in California, said there were several bets he wanted to make but could not place himself because legal online sports betting is not available in the state.
Instead, Simmons said he allowed his daughter’s boyfriend, Hank, to access his FanDuel account while in Massachusetts. Simmons received the account authentication code on his own phone and passed it along so Hank could log in and make the wagers. He later said they went through the same process again about a week later.
After the comments became public, FanDuel said it reported the matter to the MGC, voided the wagers, and took action against the account. The MGC confirmed that its staff was reviewing Simmons’ comments.
Simmons later acknowledged on his podcast that he was unaware of the proxy betting rules at the time.
Proxy betting involves one person placing a wager on behalf of somebody else. Massachusetts law specifically requires licensed sportsbooks to use reasonable measures to prevent users from placing wagers as a proxy for another person.
The restriction is designed in part to ensure sportsbooks know who is actually placing a wager and that the person is eligible to bet. It also prevents bettors from using another person to get around location or account restrictions.
The Simmons review is another example of the MGC taking a proactive approach to sports betting oversight. In August, the MGC began investigating unusual betting activity connected to former Arizona Cardinals scouting executive Ryan Gold after the NFL determined that Gold shared confidential information about the team’s plans to select Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The regulator has also been willing to penalize sportsbooks for compliance failures. Earlier this year, the MGC issued fines to several major sportsbooks, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics, for offering wagers that were not permitted under state rules. The penalties ranged from $5,000 to $20,000, including cases where only a relatively small amount of money was wagered.
Massachusetts has also expanded its regulatory focus beyond traditional wagering violations. On Aug. 31, the MGC launched its Bet on Respect initiative, which is designed to combat sports betting-related harassment of athletes.
Under the program, the commission can investigate reports of harassment that occur online or in person and potentially place offenders on the state’s involuntary exclusion list. That could prevent those individuals from accessing Massachusetts sportsbooks and casinos.
The initiative adds another layer to the MGC’s broader approach to market oversight, with the regulator focused on both operator compliance and the conduct of its bettors.
