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Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling
This jaw-dropping book pulls back the curtain on the alluring yet perilous world of American sports gambling.
Everybody Loses is the first major investigation into America’s sports gambling industry. Journalist Danny Funt has obtained wild stories and stunning admissions by interviewing the power players of the betting boom. They reveal the alarming consequences playing out as our nation of sports fans transforms into a nation of sports gamblers.
Many people within the business, including high up at the dominant companies FanDuel and DraftKings, are increasingly troubled about the methods they’ve been using to bleed Americans dry. As one former sportsbook executive says, they’re “selling that you can win, but you can’t.” Another confesses “you don’t feel good about it, that’s for sure.” But the money has proven to be irresistible.
In Everybody Loses, sportsbook employees divulge the perks they offer their biggest losers to keep them hooked, from courtside seats to tossing the first pitch at an MLB game. Oddsmakers spill their methods of skewing the numbers in their favor. Lobbyists detail how they converted skeptical politicians into gambling industry cheerleaders. Professional gamblers describe the network of “beards” they use to circumvent the industry’s attempts to block them from winning. Insiders recall their secret meetings with NBA, NFL, and MLB executives, where they laid out how much money the leagues stood to make by partnering with sportsbooks. Athletes describe the tireless harassment they get from gamblers. Addicts talk about their attempts to hide their habit. Students who are legally too young to gamble talk about how easy it is to get on the apps.
Perfect for sports fans, concerned parents, and anyone intrigued by the intersection of money and morals, this book is crucial to understanding why sports gambling is suddenly everywhere—and why the odds are so great that things will soon spiral out of control.
Everybody Loses is the first major investigation into America’s sports gambling industry. Journalist Danny Funt has obtained wild stories and stunning admissions by interviewing the power players of the betting boom. They reveal the alarming consequences playing out as our nation of sports fans transforms into a nation of sports gamblers.
Many people within the business, including high up at the dominant companies FanDuel and DraftKings, are increasingly troubled about the methods they’ve been using to bleed Americans dry. As one former sportsbook executive says, they’re “selling that you can win, but you can’t.” Another confesses “you don’t feel good about it, that’s for sure.” But the money has proven to be irresistible.
In Everybody Loses, sportsbook employees divulge the perks they offer their biggest losers to keep them hooked, from courtside seats to tossing the first pitch at an MLB game. Oddsmakers spill their methods of skewing the numbers in their favor. Lobbyists detail how they converted skeptical politicians into gambling industry cheerleaders. Professional gamblers describe the network of “beards” they use to circumvent the industry’s attempts to block them from winning. Insiders recall their secret meetings with NBA, NFL, and MLB executives, where they laid out how much money the leagues stood to make by partnering with sportsbooks. Athletes describe the tireless harassment they get from gamblers. Addicts talk about their attempts to hide their habit. Students who are legally too young to gamble talk about how easy it is to get on the apps.
Perfect for sports fans, concerned parents, and anyone intrigued by the intersection of money and morals, this book is crucial to understanding why sports gambling is suddenly everywhere—and why the odds are so great that things will soon spiral out of control.
- GenresNonfictionSportsHistory
320 pages, Hardcover
Published January 20, 2026
68 people are currently reading
543 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 30, 2026
Who would have thought that legalizing gambling would lead to problems! Oh, a lot of people did? Well then.
Danny Funt went ahead and wrote a book about all of these problems in his revelatory Everybody Loses. As you may have guessed from the title, it does not take a positive look at gambling. However, don't mistake this as a polemic about the evils of everyone who is a part of it. First of all, Funt himself admits to putting down a few dollars here and there. Second, this is not about shouting down gamblers. This is about raising awareness of the entire gambling system and some troubling conflicts of interest within.
There are some truly eye-opening sections of the narrative. I never considered how difficult it must be to be a college athlete who might go to class the day after a bad game to face people who lost big money on him or her. Or how reporters and talking heads may be giving you betting advice while they are literally paid by sportsbooks who make money when you lose.
I've read quite a few books where a journalist makes the jump to a full-length book and it feels like a bunch of articles stitched together with fluff. This is not one of those books. Funt keeps the easy prose of a journalist, but he then builds a monument to the troubles of gambling. He never loses sight of the people with the most to lose in this - the gamblers and the people around them who may be part of the fallout. This is a must-read for everyone, even non-sports fans.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Gallery Books.)
Danny Funt went ahead and wrote a book about all of these problems in his revelatory Everybody Loses. As you may have guessed from the title, it does not take a positive look at gambling. However, don't mistake this as a polemic about the evils of everyone who is a part of it. First of all, Funt himself admits to putting down a few dollars here and there. Second, this is not about shouting down gamblers. This is about raising awareness of the entire gambling system and some troubling conflicts of interest within.
There are some truly eye-opening sections of the narrative. I never considered how difficult it must be to be a college athlete who might go to class the day after a bad game to face people who lost big money on him or her. Or how reporters and talking heads may be giving you betting advice while they are literally paid by sportsbooks who make money when you lose.
I've read quite a few books where a journalist makes the jump to a full-length book and it feels like a bunch of articles stitched together with fluff. This is not one of those books. Funt keeps the easy prose of a journalist, but he then builds a monument to the troubles of gambling. He never loses sight of the people with the most to lose in this - the gamblers and the people around them who may be part of the fallout. This is a must-read for everyone, even non-sports fans.
(This book was provided as a review copy by Gallery Books.)
January 25, 2026
Fascinating and fast-paced, Everybody Loses is a must-read for anyone who, like me, is wondering how sports betting took over our culture. I thought Funt delivered deep, fair reporting on the industry’s inner workings and the growing impact on society after legalization. So many fascinating interviews with sports players, managers, employees, bookies, gamblers, politicians, lawyers, addicts, activists, family members, industry insiders.. Even if you're not a sports better or major sports fan, the book is relevant to all of us. I couldn’t put it down.
January 24, 2026
Really interesting and well-researched look into a growing crisis in this country. I just wish the publishing schedule had lined up to cover the rise of “prediction markets.”
January 26, 2026
Finally... a book that admits an expansion of gambling in American sports might cause big trouble. We are on the verge of major scandals in one or many sports because of gambling... players losing big and being compelled to throw games... gamblers threatening players and their families to make prop bets... and on and on. It's all here, especially the hypocrisy of major sports talking about integrity and honesty when they are all greedily taking as much gambling money as possible... and don't forget about the complicity of the media and government in letting all this go on with mostly a shrug of the shoulders and their own sips at the trough. And if this all destroys lives, well, that's not their problem, is it? A wonderful thing to read during all the gambling shows on TV...
January 23, 2026
There's much a liked about this book, as it highlights a clear and present danger that is threatening to ruin one of the most precious things in my life: sports. At the same time, in sections it felt preachy and instead of representing all sides of the story it consistently demonized those who sport sports gambling.
I'm aligned with the authors broader viewpoints, but was hoping for a more probing and balanced analysis.
I'm aligned with the authors broader viewpoints, but was hoping for a more probing and balanced analysis.
January 31, 2026
A well-written, deeply-researched, and illuminating yet disturbing read. Very highly recommended to anyone with an interest in gambling, sports, addiction, and the impact of all of the above on society at large.
January 20, 2026
Found this book to be an amazing dive into a world I didn’t know much about. Real eye opener, great interviews and written so well! Could not recommend more!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews