Bill Simmons faces review over proxy betting admission

Bill Simmons, the founder of The Ringer and a prominent sports media personality, is under review by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission after admitting on his podcast that he used his daughter's boyfriend to place sports bets on his behalf, a practice known as proxy betting that is illegal in the state. The controversy began when Simmons revealed on an episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, released on August 30, that while at his primary residence in California, where sports gambling is not legal, he instructed his daughter's 21-year-old boyfriend to log into his FanDuel account and place wagers in Massachusetts. Online sports betting is legal in Massachusetts, but proxy betting, where one individual places wagers for another, is explicitly prohibited under state gaming regulations. Simmons described the arrangement in detail on the podcast, explaining that he would receive an authentication code on his phone and provide it to his daughter's boyfriend, Hank, so he could access the account. "He's putting in bets for me, and honestly, it was the closest I've ever felt to Hank. It's a real bonding moment for us," Simmons said.