On today’s episode, reporter and author Danny Funt joins the show to discuss his new book, Everybody Loses, which uncovers the realities of sports betting in America—including a story that hits close to home for me.

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY About Danny: Danny Funt covers sports betting as a contributor at The Washington Post. His reporting has also appeared in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and the Columbia Journalism Review. He previously worked as an editor at The Week magazine. A graduate of Georgetown University and the Columbia Journalism School, he lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and son. Book Link: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Everybody-Loses/Danny-Funt/9781668062043

You will hear how sportsbooks and leagues sold the public on a story about safety and integrity, while building a system that rewards constant play, pushes misleading marketing, and treats the biggest losers as the most valuable customers. Danny shares what he learned from people inside the industry, including how VIP programs work, why meaningful guardrails get blocked the moment they threaten revenue, and why self-policing fails when the incentives are upside down. We also get into the ripple effects on sports itself: athletes and coaches getting flooded with abuse and threats after games, fans burning out on watching unless they have money on the line, and a whole generation learning that placing bets is just part of being a sports fan. Finally, Danny explains where this is headed next, including the bigger push for online casino and the rise of microbetting designed to keep you locked into your phone every few minutes.

This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction.

🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources

👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr

🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz

😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Randy L shares how gambling addiction cost him businesses, money, and nearly his life.

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp

Randy thought gambling could fix his financial stress, but it nearly took his life. In this episode, he opens up about a 10–11 year gambling addiction that escalated from casual casino trips to high-stakes baccarat, online casino apps, and desperate sports bets. At his lowest point, he took out a personal loan to pay debt… then used most of it at the casino and lost it within two days. He describes the warped value of money, the chase, the superstitions, the comps, the binge cycles, and the brutal reality of going from winning five figures to walking out with nothing. We break down what baccarat is, why it feels like you can “figure it out,” and how the casino environment keeps people trapped. Randy also talks about the moment he realized he was out of control, the last bets he made, and what the first months of recovery really looked like: staying busy, working multiple jobs, rebuilding one brick at a time, and learning to value money again. From beginner’s luck to baccarat, debt, and rock bottom, this episode breaks down how fast gambling can spiral and what it took to finally walk away.

This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction.

🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources

👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr

🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz

😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Melissa shares her story as someone impacted by the gambling addiction of her partner.

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp

In this video, I interview Melissa, who shares her personal journey of being married to someone whose gambling addiction profoundly affected her life. Melissa raises awareness about the devastating impact gambling addiction can have on families and relationships. If you or someone you love is struggling with gambling, this conversation offers insight, understanding, and support.

🎧 Listen to Melissa’s podcast, Making Bets in a Burning House, on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3CqXAxF1psNelUbx2qNSaa?si=1d9b581c898e4f60

In this episode, Melissa shares what it’s really like to love someone with a gambling addiction and how it impacts money, trust, safety, and your sense of stability. Her story is unique because she was affected by the gambling of both her ex-husband and her current husband, and she explains how quickly it can escalate from seemingly harmless sports betting into secrecy, debt, hidden loans, and fear about paying bills. We talk about why family members often stay silent, how shame and stigma keep people from getting help, and the empathy gap that can form between gamblers and the people they hurt.

Melissa also breaks down what Gam-Anon is (a 12-step fellowship for the family and friends of compulsive gamblers), what it teaches, and why it is not a place to attack the gambler, but a place to rebuild yourself through boundaries, support, and clarity.

🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources

👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr

🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz

😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1