The Joys of Sports Betting

The Joys of Sports Bettingpulls back the curtain on America’s fastest-growing obsession. Once hidden in smoky backrooms and whispered through bookies, gambling now flashes across every screen, packaged as “fan engagement” and sold as harmless fun.David Rountree tells the story with wit and bite—from the Black Sox scandal of 1919 to today’s billion-dollar sportsbooks that flood the airwaves with “risk-free” bets. Meet the colorful cast behind the action: hustling bookies, shady fixers, slick lobbyists, and CEOs who turn losses into loyalty. Alongside them are everyday fans—grandmothers who see parlays as sacred, superfans who cheer against their own teams, and data nerds convinced they’ve found the perfect formula.This book is more than history—it’s a sharp social commentary on how gambling reshaped sports and reprogrammed fans. Entertaining, irreverent, and thought-provoking,The Joys of Sports Bettingshows why the house always wins—even when the fans think they’re playing.Read more