Bill Simmons Admits to Breaking Sports Betting Rules in Massachusetts

Bill Simmons, the founder of “The Ringer,” has admitted to breaking Massachusetts sports betting rules. On his podcast, Simmons detailed how he made futures wagers on the Houston Texans and UCLA while in California. He said his daughter’s boyfriend, Hank, was in Massachusetts at the time and used Simmons’ FanDuel account to place the bets. “I let Hank log into my FanDuel as me,” Simmons said. “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, and honestly, it was the closest I’ve ever felt to Hank. It’s a real bonding moment for us.”

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has strict regulations on sports betting, including requiring sportsbooks to notify gamblers when their action is limited. The MGC ruled last year that DraftKings couldn’t void a bet because of an error. The commission has fought against prediction markets, as well. Additionally, the state has strict rules on sports betting advertising. The MGC fined Penn Sports Interactive $25,000 in 2025 for non-compliance over a promotional campaign.

FanDuel's terms of service prohibit users from allowing others to use their accounts: “Your account is solely for your personal use. Customers are prohibited from wagering on behalf of a third party and/or allowing other individuals to access their account.” The incident could further amplify calls for more stringent log-in procedures in the industry, including the use of biometric data. In April, New York regulators announced a plan to bring that technology to the state’s sports betting industry. The aim is to curb problem gambling and prevent minors from wagering.