Talk To Tom: A Sports Betting Podcast

Thomas Viola is joined by Tim Lawson, host of The Bettor Life Podcast and a bevy of other ventures in the world of gambling content, to talk about the art of interviewing in betting, mental health, their mutual love of Major League Soccer, and so much more!00:00 – Intro + Timothy Lawson joins02:00 – Double Chance & MLS betting success04:00 – Why The Bettor Life ended08:00 – Podcasting evolution & interview strategy16:00 – Mental health in gambling23:00 – Favorite guests & industry insights28:30 – Niche content & future podcast ideas34:00 – World Cup & soccer betting strategyFollow Thomas on X/Twitter at: https://x.com/TVatWorkFollow Thomas on Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review!

Thomas Viola sits down with Richard Schuetz, an industry legend and CEO of American Bettors Voice, an activist group looking to represent the interests of bettors around the nation, for a discussion on how ABV is working to help advance the cause of fair sports betting for all, and tell some stories from back in the day. 0:00 – Intro + Richard Schuetz joins the show 1:01 – What is American Bettors Voice & why it exists4:37 – Gambling regulation history & lessons from early Vegas7:52 – Industry swings: legalization, backlash & sustainability10:01 – Limits, bettor treatment & lack of representation13:30 – Vegas evolution: analytics vs experience18:38 – Sportsbook history & inside the Stardust era23:07 – Data, transparency & exposing industry practices26:41 – Prediction markets: risks, politics & “Wild West” concerns32:29 – Responsible gambling, addiction & fixing the system39:16 – The future: regulation, bettor voice & industry balanceCheck out American Bettors Voice at bettorsvoice.comFollow Thomas on X/Twitter at: https://x.com/TVatWorkFollow Thomas on Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review!

Thomas Viola sits down with Jeff Edelstein of InGame.com and The Business of Betting Podcast to talk about the latest in prediction market news, as well as Jeff's work in the industry as a podcaster and journalist, how he approaches interviews, our general outlooks on the world of gambling, The Sopranos, and so much more!0:00 – Intro + Jeff Edelstein joins the show 5:42 – Prediction markets chaos: lawsuits, counter-lawsuits & no end in sight7:30 – “It’s all gambling” debate (and why definitions don’t matter)12:29 – Industry divide: casinos vs prediction markets15:32 – Can prediction markets & sportsbooks coexist?17:49 – The “Wild West” era & where this is all heading18:35 – Building a great gambling podcast + finding unique guests23:04 – The wild personalities inside the betting world29:14 – Legendary arbitrage story (genius or crime?)40:30 – Gambling culture, next generation risks & lack of educationFollow Jeff on X at: https://x.com/jeffedelsteinCheck out the Business of Betting Podcast: https://www.businessofbetting.com/Follow Thomas on X/Twitter at: https://x.com/TVatWorkFollow Thomas on Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review!

This week on Talk To Tom, Thomas Viola sits down with Robert Linnehan, regulatory writer for SportRadar, to break down the latest Prediction Market legal drama including court rulings in Arizona and Nevada, a new bill in Washington DC, and more!0:00 – Prediction markets chaos is here (and it’s getting worse) 2:35 – Is this all heading to the Supreme Court?6:12 – Strange political alliances & major red flags10:28 – New federal bills: real threat or noise?13:50 – Nevada cracks down + New Jersey joins the fight17:47 – Casinos vs prediction markets (who’s really losing?)21:02 – Public backlash grows + Colorado’s extreme proposal29:30 – DraftKings’ wild new betting product explained36:28 – Wisconsin surprise + what happens nextFollow Rob on X at: https://x.com/RLinnehanSRFollow Thomas on X/Twitter at: https://x.com/TVatWorkFollow Thomas on Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review!

This week on Talk To Tom, Thomas Viola sits down with acclaimed sports gambling writer David Hill to discuss his thoughts on the controversial Atlantic cover story on sports betting, his approach to telling stories in the gambling world, and more! Follow David on X at: https://x.com/davehill77Follow his Substack: https://davidhill.substack.com/Follow Thomas on X/Twitter at: https://x.com/TVatWorkFollow Thomas on Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review!

This week on the Talk To Tom Podcast Thomas Viola sits down with Derek Carty of EVAnalytics, creator of the Bat X and Blitz Player Projection Systems, for a deep dive into what goes in to building such a sophisticated model, the pressure of selling projections, moving off of your priors, and so much more. Follow Derek on X: https://x.com/DerekCartyCheck out the BATX for yourself here: https://evanalytics.com/subscribe/mlb/seasonFollow Thomas on X/Twitter at: https://x.com/TVatWorkFollow Thomas on Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review!

Thomas Viola sits down with Rick Allec, a man who has worked in just about every aspect of the betting industry across his career, to talk about building tools bettors want, when was the best time for sports betting, what does the future look like, and so much more!Talk to Tom is a sports betting and gambling podcast; host Thomas Viola sits down with leading experts, pioneers, and bettors across the gambling industry to tell their stories, talk process, and keep you informed in the ever changing world of gambling. Follow Thomas on X/Twitter at: https://x.com/TVatWorkFollow Thomas on Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review!

Thomas Viola sits down with Betsperts Director of Content Andy Molitor to talk about his life as Twitter's funniest follow, the balance of building betting content while maintaining your edge, the state of sports betting content today, betting on golf and football, and more!Follow Andy on Twitter/X at: https://x.com/AndyMSFWTalk to Tom is a sports betting and gambling podcast; host Thomas Viola sits down with leading experts, pioneers, and bettors across the gambling industry to tell their stories, talk process, and keep you informed in the ever changing world of gambling. Follow Thomas on X/Twitter at: https://x.com/TVatWorkFollow Thomas on Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review!

Today on Talk To Tom, Thomas Viola sits down with Isaac Rose-Berman, a professional sports bettor and responsible gaming advocate, to talk about his recent appearance in Vice's sports betting documentary, the deceptive practices of responsible gaming from sportsbooks, and to tackle the question: how can you save people from ruining their lives, in a business built on taking their money? Check out Isaac's work here: https://howgamblingworks.substack.com/Follow Isaac on X: https://x.com/roundrobin42Talk to Tom is a sports betting and gambling podcast; host Thomas Viola sits down with leading experts, pioneers, and bettors across the gambling industry to tell their stories, talk process, and keep you informed in the ever changing world of gambling. Follow Thomas on X/Twitter at: https://x.com/TVatWorkFollow Thomas on Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review!

Thomas Viola sits down with gambling and prediction market journalist Dustin Gouker for a deep dive into the world of Prediction Markets - the good, the bad, and the ugly. From suspect marketing tactics, to legal loopholes, to their benefits and positives. Follow Dustin on X @DustinGoukerFollow his work at https://t.co/Sey0u9AHz3Talk to Tom is a sports betting and gambling podcast; host Thomas Viola sits down with leading experts, pioneers, and bettors across the gambling industry to tell their stories, talk process, and keep you informed in the ever changing world of gambling. Follow Thomas on X/Twitter at: https://x.com/TVatWorkFollow Thomas on Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review!

This week on the Talk To Tom Podcast, Thomas Viola sits down with United States Congresswoman Dina Titus to talk about her proposed bill known as the FAIR BET Act, which seeks to rectify last year's changes to gambling tax deductions and restore bettors' ability to deduct 100% of their gambling losses when filing their taxes. Congresswoman Titus updates us on where current efforts to fix this stand, when gamblers can expect to hear more news, gives us insight into how bills like this come to pass, and more!00:00 — Introduction & Fair Bet Act Overview01:38 — Why This Issue Exploded in Public Attention02:00 — Recent House Rules Committee Hearing Update03:54 — Why the Fix Hasn’t Passed Yet05:20 — The “Phantom Income” Tax Problem Explained06:34 — How the Provision Was Added in the Senate08:05 — Fragmentation in the Gambling Industry09:41 — Casino Industry Divisions & Tribal Gaming Conflicts10:11 — Fair Bet Act vs Full House Act11:22 — Economic Fallout If Law Isn’t Fixed12:37 — Casino Industry & Gaming Association Support13:26 — Spending Fights & Political Timing15:00 — Midterms, Lame Duck Sessions & Election Strategy16:16 — Impact on Professional & Casual Gamblers17:12 — Tax Extender Bills Explained17:52 — Other Possible Legislative Paths18:55 — Revenue Offset Concerns Explained19:28 — What Bettors Can Do to Help21:18 — Closing Thoughts on Gaming’s Importance to Nevada21:57 — Final Thanks & Show OutroTalk to Tom is a sports betting and gambling podcast; host Thomas Viola sits down with leading experts, pioneers, and bettors across the gambling industry to tell their stories, talk process, and keep you informed in the ever changing world of gambling. Follow Thomas on X/Twitter at: https://x.com/TVatWorkFollow Thomas on Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a 5-star rating and review!

On today's episode of Talk To Tom, Thomas Viola sits down with Sporttrade CEO Alex Kane for a discussion on Sporttrade's current expansion plans, the economy of Prediction Markets, the differences between the Prediction Market model and the traditional sportsbook model, where Alex believes prediction markets are headed, and so much more! Download Sporttrade today: https://getsporttrade.com/Follow Alex on X at: https://x.com/a_kane47Catch all of Tom Viola's work on:Substack: https://substack.com/@tvatwork?X: https://x.com/TVatWork

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Talk to Tom Podcast, where host Tom Viola is joined by Captain Jack to break down the biggest issue facing sports bettors in 2026 — the new 90% gambling loss deduction tax rule.In this episode, Tom and Jack explain how recent tax law changes impact sports betting, professional gamblers, advantage players, and high-volume bettors, including why many bettors could now owe taxes on “phantom income.” They dive into current congressional efforts like the Fair Bet Act and FULL HOUSE Act, IRS guidance uncertainty, sessioning strategies, and what bettors should realistically prepare for this tax season.They also discuss the latest college sports betting scandal, casino industry reactions, CPA disagreements on compliance strategies, and how this rule could reshape the future of legal sports gambling.Topics Covered:Sports betting tax law changes explained90% gambling loss deduction ruleFair Bet Act & FULL HOUSE Act updatesIRS guidance issuesSessioning strategies for gamblersSports betting scandal newsHow casinos and VIP bettors are impactedFollow Thomas Viola on X at @TVatWork00:00 – Welcome to Talk to Tom Podcast (Episode 1 Introduction)01:20 – Why Captain Jack Is the First Guest02:45 – New Gambling Tax Law Explained (90% Loss Deduction Rule)04:30 – Why This Hurts Sports Bettors & Advantage Players06:10 – Congressional Fix Attempts Overview06:50 – Fair Bet Act Breakdown (Dina Titus Proposal)08:00 – Why Tax Revenue Replacement Is Complicating Reform09:40 – Laffer Curve & Gambling Tax Economics Explained11:05 – Republican Support & Political Momentum12:15 – FULL HOUSE Act Overview13:50 – Timeline Pressure Before Midterm Elections15:00 – Prediction Markets & Betting on Legislative Outcomes16:00 – Filing Extensions & Tax Payment Risks17:15 – CPA Disagreements on Gambling Tax Strategy18:30 – IRS Lack of Guidance Problem20:05 – Audits, Enforcement Timelines & Risk Reality21:00 – Sessioning Explained for Sports Bettors23:00 – Platform-Based vs Daily Session Strategies24:50 – Why Filing Gambling Taxes Is So Complicated26:45 – Casino Industry Reaction to New Tax Rules28:00 – How VIP Gamblers & Slot Players Are Impacted29:40 – Why Casinos Want This Fixed Quickly

Hello everyone and welcome on in to the Talk To Tom Podcast, a brand new sports betting podcast dedicated to all things sports betting. On this show I will look to bring you stories, insights, betting advice and more from some of the greatest minds across the sports betting industry. I hope you will hit the follow button and join us back here for episode 1 launching on January 19, 2026, where Captain Jack Andrews will sit down with me to talk all about the landscape of gambling tax law in 2026. Be sure to follow me at @TVatWork on X for more updates, and thanks for listening!