When the Bookie Is in Your Pocket

Engagement Party

CNN

News, Entertainment News, Arts, Society & Culture

4.6 • 986 Ratings

🗓️ 26 March 2026

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

One man’s journey from suburban dad to self-described “degenerate gambler.” The Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins joins Audie to recount how he spent $10,000 of his employer’s money betting on the NFL over the course of a season. They discuss how online sports gambling reshaped his habits, what it reveals about a rapidly expanding industry, and how betting has seeped into everyday culture. Plus, the manosphere of it all. Producers: Jesse Remedios & Lori Galarreta Senior Producer: Matt Martinez Technical Director: Dan Dzula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey everyone, it's Audie.
0:04.6	This is The Assignment.
0:05.7	And today we're talking about one man's journey from suburban dad to quote, degenerate
0:10.4	gambler.
0:11.5	My guest today is a staff writer for the Atlantic.
0:13.8	His name is McKay Coppins.
0:15.6	He spent $10,000 of his employer's money and an entire NFL season diving into the world of online
0:23.7	sports betting.
0:24.9	98% of problem gamblers online are men.
0:28.6	Can the Manosphere tackle this?
0:30.2	I will tell you, we have tried to pitch this story to the Big Manosphere podcast.
0:36.2	I've yet to be booked on any. If anyone's listening,
0:38.5	I would be happy to come on and talk to you, Joe Rogan or anybody else. Nobody wants me.
0:43.4	And I wanted to talk to him because lately, honestly, betting of all kinds has gone mainstream.
0:51.3	We're talking about more than a two and five shot that those who are putting their money
0:55.8	where their mouth is, think that the U.S. will acquire part of Greenland by the end of Trump's term.
1:01.1	And it's taken over pro sports completely. We're talking billions in tax revenue and boosted ratings.
1:07.1	If only, there weren't those pesky scandals.
1:11.5	This sprawling FBI probe into mafia-linked gambling and sports rigging schemes are sending
1:16.2	shockwaves across the NBA and the United States.
1:19.3	The interpreter for the LA Dodgers star stole nearly $17 million from him to secretly
1:25.4	pay off some of his own sports gambling debts.
	...

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