Massachusetts Gaming Commission Calls FanDuel to Hearing Over Proxy Bets Placed Via Bill Simmons Account
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted to hold FanDuel to an adjudicatory hearing over 22 proxy bets totaling $21,800 via Bill Simmons' account. Scrutiny targets the operator's prevention and response, not just the celebrity's actions. The case flags proxy betting as a wider compliance concern, especially for youth.
SCCG Take — This puts operators on notice that regulators will examine internal controls and post-incident actions in proxy betting cases, beyond self-reporting.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted unanimously Thursday to hold an adjudicatory hearing with FanDuel over proxy wagers placed through the account of Bill Simmons. FanDuel self-reported 22 wagers totaling $21,800 across three days in August. An acquaintance in Massachusetts placed the bets while Simmons was in California.
The operator voided the wagers, reported the matter, and restricted the account after Simmons discussed the activity on his August 30 podcast. According to SBC Americas, the commission's Investigations and Enforcement Bureau is examining possible violations of state gambling rules. Senior Enforcement Counsel Zak Mercer told the MGC the bureau "will be digging in on all facets of this and making determinations as the facts guide us."
Regulators Shift Focus to FanDuel's Conduct
Commissioners emphasized the hearing will center on FanDuel's role rather than solely on Simmons. Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chair Jordan Maynard said he wanted "to know how they were handling it" and was "more interested in how the operator let this happen and the action they took after it was public."
Commissioner Eileen O’Brien pushed for the hearing. She described proxy betting as "one of the huge issues that we’ve had, especially with youth and college-age people betting" and expressed disturbance at the "lack of full appreciation" that it is illegal. O’Brien added that the matter offers "an opportunity to have an operator do a deeper dive as well into proxy betting."
State rules prohibit operators from permitting proxy bets. They classify the person placing such a bet as a prohibited person and require account blocks plus fund confiscation.
Other Compliance Matters on the Agenda
The meeting also covered additional sportsbook issues. Fanatics faced review for a refer-a-friend program used by 71 Massachusetts accounts that generated 102 links on March 27. BetMGM accepted 109 wagers from 56 accounts in unlicensed states on Oct. 23, 2025, plus 17 from nine accounts in other licensed states and 190 from 25 accounts that should have been blocked. Fanatics further failed to notify 132 patrons of betting limits between July 29 and Sept. 7.
The bureau presented penalty recommendations for two Caesars Sportsbook cases involving unauthorized events.
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