The New Yorker Radio Hour How Betting Took Over Sports
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Jan 20, 2026 Danny Funt, a journalist and author of "Everybody Loses," dives into the explosive growth of sports gambling in America. He reveals how betting has moved from the fringes to a $150 billion market, impacting even young children. Funt discusses the predatory nature of the industry, the integrity risks from recent scandals, and how sportsbooks exploit consumer habits. He also highlights troubling trends in youth gambling and calls for renewed regulation to protect vulnerable players in this rapidly evolving landscape.
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Scale Of The Gambling Boom
- Legal sports gambling is now a massive industry worth roughly $150 billion annually. FanDuel and DraftKings control about three-quarters of the market, shifting most wagering online.
Industry Mindset Is Predatory
- The industry views customers as revenue sources to be maximized, not protected. Executives openly describe their goal as slowly bleeding customers dry.
Personal Betting Habit
- Danny Funt admits he bets occasionally at Lakers games, especially when alone and bored. Repeated reporting on how hard it is to win has made him cut back recently.
