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

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Overview

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 ...
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More About This Book

Overview

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.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781602390997
  • Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
  • Publication date: 10/1/2007
  • Pages: 320
  • Product dimensions: 6.10 (w) x 9.00 (h) x 1.00 (d)

Table of Contents


Foreword   Brandon Lang     xi
From Beaches to Behind Bars     1
Bookmaking Beginnings     37
Betting 101: An Overview     49
Bookmaking Roots Run Deep     65
The Ends Justify the Means     81
Panama: Game On     91
The Dream     101
The Sky's the Limit: Costa Rica     123
Playing with Fire: Burning the Bridges to Panama     133
Putting Together a Winning Lineup     143
A Little Bit of Heaven and a Hell of a Lot of Money     151
Life in the Fast Lane, Dodging Potholes Left and Right     159
A-Listers and Star Athletes: Welcome to Hollywood     171
Unstoppable: A Gambler's Mind and a Bookmaker's Odds     187
Dot-com Dollar Signs     205
Playing the Final Hand You're Dealt     211
Glossary     221
Acknowledgments     253
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Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews

  • Posted December 15, 2009

    Steve Budin - Rapper turned Capper

    When I met Steve he was a wanna be rapper from Miami who needed to learn the sports services business. His story is really that of his father's. Steve just wrote this book because deep inside he wants to be Brandon Lang.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 15, 2008

    A reviewer

    This book was written by the father of off shore sports book gambling and is a truly fascinating read. Having learned the basics of bookmaking from his father, who was one of the top bookies in New York City, early on Steve Budin demonstrated a remarkable talent for his chosen field. The book charts his rise from his early days as a high school bookmaker in Florida, who took bets from his classmates as well as from their parents and his teachers, through his time as a casino host to his setting up of the first real offshore sports book in Panama and later in Costa Rica. He also discusses his battles with the US government, which ultimately lead to his downfall, notwithstanding that he was meticulous about paying taxes on his earnings. The book is filled with interesting tidbits about some of his celebrity clients, which included actors and professional athletes as well as his philosophy about the proper conduct of a bookie. The book also provides an excellent introduction to the basics of sports betting which I found especially enlightening. I will note that Mr. Budin frequently pats himself on the back in his book and brags about his accomplishments but I think he is entitled to his pride when you realize he helped create what is now a multi-billion dollar industry. The book is a fast paced read which I finished in one sitting.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
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