Bill Simmons, well-known sports podcaster and advocate for sports betting, is currently under review by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. This follows his admission of using his daughter’s boyfriend to place bets on his behalf. The commission’s investigation began after Simmons discussed the matter on a podcast episode.
During the episode, Simmons revealed he had used a proxy multiple times to access his betting account in Massachusetts. Simmons, founder of The Ringer, lives in California, where sports betting remains illegal. However, Massachusetts allows mobile and online betting. Proxy betting, which involves having someone else place bets for you, is illegal in Massachusetts. This practice is also not permitted by FanDuel, the sportsbook used for these wagers.
An MGC spokesman stated, “The Commission is aware of the comments made on the Bill Simmons Podcast and staff are currently reviewing the matter.” FanDuel, the exclusive sports betting partner of The Ringer, has reported the issue to the commission and has voided Simmons’ bets.
In the podcast, Simmons mentioned his desire to place certain bets, particularly on UCLA overs, but logistical issues prevented him. He considered involving his daughter but ultimately reached out to her boyfriend. “I get the code to make sure it’s me to my phone, I give him the code, he logs in. And I have all this money that I had from last year because I actually hit a bunch of futures last year. And he’s putting in bets for me,” Simmons explained, calling it a “bonding moment” for them.
Simmons described how the proxy betting process unfolded: “I called him up, ran it back, and we did some more.”
In a subsequent episode, Simmons expressed ignorance about the rules. He admitted, “I did not know about the proxy rules,” acknowledging the voiding of his bets and the lesson he’s learned.
Simmons, once a columnist and commentator for ESPN, remains a highly influential figure in the podcasting world. As of recent data, “The Bill Simmons Podcast” ranks No. 22 overall and No. 2 in the sports category on Spotify. In 2020, Spotify acquired The Ringer, a sports and pop culture network, for over $200 million.
Leave a Reply