Inside the explosive growth of sports betting

The surge in sports betting and its societal implications are examined through the lens of McKay Coppins's year-long gambling experiment. Coppins, a staff writer at The Atlantic, details his exploration into the explosive growth of online sports betting, the ethical conflicts faced by sports leagues now profiting from gambling, and the potential for insider trading within predictive markets. He recounts how the leagues, initially opposed, quickly embraced the revenue potential after the Supreme Court's decision. The conversation highlights the increasing normalization of gambling among younger audiences and the lack of federal regulation, drawing parallels to the tobacco industry's advertising tactics. Coppins also shares his personal experience, including his near $10,000 loss and subsequent enrollment in a self-exclusion program, underscoring the addictive nature and the challenges of distancing oneself from gambling.