Bets, Drugs, and Rock and Roll : The Rise and Fall of the World's First Offshore Sports Gambling Empire

Steve Budin

ISBN 10: 1602390991 / ISBN 13: 9781602390997

Published by Skyhorse Publishing, 2007

About this Item

The gambler's high is like a rush; he feels invulnerable. That high lasts, though, only until the next big loss. Such is the story of Steve Budin, who created the first online sports betting company. Under the tutelage of his father, a legendary, old-school Miami bookmaker, and with the help of a cocaine-addicted polygamist, Budin revolutionized the shadowy business of spreads by taking them global. But he also stuck to some tried and true methods, like plying clients with trips to Vegas, hookers, and hardcore drugs. In the end, Budin raked in hundreds of millions of dollars and stood on the verge of a deal worth billions more. He took bookmaking into an automated, virtual worldwide casino that anyone could access, anywhere and at any time. For anyone fascinated by the wild West that is internet gambling, here is a rare peek into that exciting, dangerous world.

Seller Inventory # CIN1602390991G

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Bets, Drugs, and Rock and Roll : The Rise and Fall of the World's First Offshore Sports Gambling Empire
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
• Publication Date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1602390991
• ISBN 13: 9781602390997
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

The gambler’s high is like a rush; he feels invulnerable. That high lasts, though, only until the next big loss. Such is the story of Steve Budin, who created the first online sports betting company. Under the tutelage of his father, a legendary, old-school Miami bookmaker, and with the help of a cocaine-addicted polygamist, Budin revolutionized the shadowy business of spreads by taking them global. But he also stuck to some tried and true methods, like plying clients with trips to Vegas, hookers, and hardcore drugs. In the end, Budin raked in hundreds of millions of dollars and stood on the verge of a deal worth billions more. He took bookmaking into an automated, virtual worldwide casino that anyone could access, anywhere and at any time. For anyone fascinated by the “wild West” that is internet gambling, here is a rare peek into that exciting, dangerous world.

About the Author

STEVE BUDIN is widely regarded as the father of what is now known as the offshore sports gambling industry. A self-made multi-millionaire before the age of thirty, he single-handedly revolutionized the bookmaking industry by being the first to take bets offshore through toll-free numbers. Today he is the President & CEO of Sports Advisors, an online handicapping service for gamblers. BOB SCHALLER is the author of thirty-five published books, including Never Stop Pushing (with Olympic wrestling champion Rulon Gardner) and State of the Game (with Hall of Fame basketball coach Denny Crum).