Sports Betting: From Vegas to Our Smartphones

from Sports In America with David Greene · host WHYY | PRX

With recent news of an FBi investigation into the NBA and mob ties around sports betting, this week on Sports in America, we take a look at how sports gambling went from the smoky parlors of Vegas to a multi-billion dollar industry that we can access from our smartphones. We talk to author Beth Raymer, who gives us a firsthand personal look at the highs and lows of sports gambling. We also talk to gambling expert Jonathan Cohen to understand how this collective obsession can ruin people’s lives, and some solutions for how we can control it.Show Notes Lay the Favorite: A Memoir about Gambling | Penguin Random House What we know about arrests in FBI's illegal gambling investigation | BBC Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling | Columbia Global Reports Inside how sports betting went mainstream | ESPN What is Gambling Disorder? | American Psychiatric Association Show CreditsExecutive Producer: Tom GrahslerSenior Producer: Michael OlcottProducer: Michaela WinbergAssociate Producer: Bibiana CorreaEngineer: Mike VillersTile Art: Bea WallingSports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

What this episode covers

With recent news of an FBi investigation into the NBA and mob ties around sports betting, this week on Sports in America, we take a look at how sports gambling went from the smoky parlors of Vegas to a multi-billion dollar industry that we can access from our smartphones. We talk to author Beth Raymer, who gives us a firsthand personal look at the highs and lows of sports gambling. We also talk to gambling expert Jonathan Cohen to understand how this collective obsession can ruin people’s lives, and some solutions for how we can control it. Show Notes Lay the Favorite: A Memoir about Gambling | Penguin Random House What we know about arrests in FBI's illegal gambling investigation | BBC Losing Big: America’s Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling | Columbia Global Reports Inside how sports betting went mainstream | ESPN What is Gambling Disorder? | American Psychiatric Association Show Credits Executive Producer: Tom Grahsler Senior Producer: Michael Olcott Producer: Michaela Winberg Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa Engineer: Mike Villers Tile Art: Bea Walling Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.

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How long is this episode of Sports In America with David Greene?

This episode is 50 minutes long.

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This episode was published on November 18, 2025.

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