Then One Day ...: 40 Years of Bookmaking in Nevada

by Chris Andrews

Chris Andrews was destined to be a bookmaker. Growing up under the watchful eye and influence of his Uncle Jack Franzi, legendary Pittsburgh wiseguy and Las Vegas sportsbook pioneer, Chris started booking sports bets in the fifth grade. He followed Uncle Jack to Las Vegas shortly after graduating college in the mid-’70s, landing his first job in the sports book at the Stardust right after the bad-old Frank Rosenthal and Chicago mob regime. Next, he moved to the Barbary Coast where he started handling major action, one time “losing” $250,000 on an eight-hour shift. At age 25, Chris became the youngest sports book director in the business at the Club Cal Neva in Reno. He started to make his mark on the industry, inventing the pleaser and 10-point teaser cards, introducing Super Bowl-style prop bets for Monday Night Football games, and, perhaps most importantly, giving Roxy Roxborough, Las Vegas’ most influential oddsmaker, his first paying job. Then One Day ... delves deeply into the consciousness of a legitimate bookmaker and sports bettor. By the time you finish this memoir, you’ll be an expert in the language and customs of legalized gambling on sporting events, which, now that the Supreme Court has opened the door, is finally set to explode throughout the nation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 8, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read. I listened to the Audible version. Gambling and bookmaking have always interested me (how can so many games end so close to the closing lines?! It always amazes me.) When you pick up a book like this, you're expecting outrageous stories. Chris Andrews delivered. The world of sports betting, as you might expect, is filled with a cast of characters. Andrews does a nice job relaying many interesting tales from his 40 years in the industry. For some reason, I found myself saying "no way!" the most in the horse racing chapters. Overall, a solid read and a fun look at what has to be a stressful (but fun) job.

[Shivesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really quick and fun tour of the Good Old Days when mobsters still ran Vegas and Reno was an up and coming "small big town". Chris is the current sportbook director at South Point, which remains one of the better locals casinos in town with plenty of sharp bettors at play.

There was much more to write about in the early days when Chris should further tell tales about his Uncle Jack (Franzi) and other connected guys from the East Coast. The back end of the memoir gets tied down with score settling and various grievances. However, this is overall an easy weekend read. This appeals to the gamblers out there who can't get enough of old Vegas stories before that world disappeared.

[Slappy McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of gambling/bookmaking stories from the guy (Chris Andrews) who runs the Sportsbook at the Southpoint in Las Vegas. I had heard many of them already on the podcast he is a guest on Gil Alexander's show during NFL season.

The book doesn't deal out too much "juicy" info and Andrews is picky about giving out facts/names. Makes for a disappointing read at times.

However, it reads pretty quickly and is slightly entertaining and interesting at times - IF you have an interest in gambling at all. Otherwise... it would be completely skippable.

[Sergio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris really loves what he does for a living. It's all he ever does. Good or bad, through thick and thin, he wakes up to his reality with what sounds like gusto, guts, and bravado. I remember being asked in my history class "and what else did the immigrants from Europe go through when they got to Ellis Island?" Chris really brought this back for me. Small towns get credit for inspiring flamboyant lifestyles.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun set of stories about the old Nevada. I recommend to anyone that is interested in gambling as a quick, enjoyable read. Chris's experiences with a bunch of characters and old time Nevada/Vegas definitely kept me interested the whole way through. The short story chapters made for easy reading as well.

[Javier Ochoa C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book!

Even when english it's not my mother's tongue and fue this some expressions were difficult to understand at thw beginning, I really enjoyed this book and I really laugh and had a good time with all the stories. I will look for more books lime this one.

[Henney'z Pop Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good for anyone who enjoys wagering on sports and is looking to learn more about the other side of the counter.

[Brian D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read. Great stories!

[Thomas Edward Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old Vegas is the best Vegas.

[Michael J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK

Would've got 1 more star but author did not mention Lee Pete once in the book.

Also, he got political. Read it for yourself to figure it out.

[David]

Interesting and entertaining book with great stories about gambling in old Vegas. Will read second book, "Then One Year." Love listening to his podcasts as well.

[Beta Male Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrews masterfully intertwines compelling stories about the golden era of Vegas with sharp insights into the world of bookmaking. This story is as relevant as ever with the legalization of sports betting in America and the proliferation of legal sportsbooks in states across the country. The book is best suited for sports and gambling fans, but, there's a little something for everyone.