EPISODE · Mar 12, 2026 · 32 MIN
A Year as a Degenerate Sports Gambler
from Radio Atlantic · host The Atlantic
Gambling is ever-present in America these days. After the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to legalized sports gambling, Americans went from legally betting $4.9 billion on sports in 2017 to at least $160 billion last year. When the Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins wanted to do a story about sports gambling, he and his editor thought, Why not try it himself? He had never really gambled before. What could go wrong? The magazine staked him $10,000 (partly a religious workaround) and sent him on his way. But over the course of the NFL season—and betting whenever and wherever he could—Coppins ended up getting (and losing) more than he bargained for. Read his full story here: "Sucker: My Year as a Degenerate Gambler." --- Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Gambling is ever-present in America these days. After the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to legalized sports gambling, Americans went from legally betting $4.9 billion on sports in 2017 to at least $160 billion last year. When the Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins wanted to do a story about sports gambling, he and his editor thought, Why not try it himself? He had never really gambled before. What could go wrong? The magazine staked him $10,000 (partly a religious workaround) and sent him on his way. But over the course of the NFL season—and betting whenever and wherever he could—Coppins ended up getting (and losing) more than he bargained for. Read his full story here: "Sucker: My Year as a Degenerate Gambler." --- Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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A Year as a Degenerate Sports Gambler
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