Episodes

  • NormBeck

    NormBeck
    Dec 22 2025
    Today I speak with Norm Beck, a professional bridge player, magician, and friend about a bet he won, that turned out to be a big loser.

    Show Notes

    [00:00] Introduction of Norm Beck, bridge player and magician
    [00:37] Norm’s biggest gamble
    [06:40] Clever pre-surgery research strategy
    [13:07] Hiring another doctor to translate information to family
    [14:49] Getting into the gambling business
    [20:30] Booking action on random events
    [23:28] A billion dollar bet
    [31:23] $500k bet on changing a tire
    [33:45] “Win Your Line of Credit” blackjack tournament
    [41:21] How to contact the show
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    42 mins
  • Cowboy Buzz

    Cowboy Buzz
    Dec 7 2025
    Buzz Marconi moved to Las Vegas in the 1960s, and somehow transformed from an Italian kid from the south side of Chicago into Cowboy Buzz. It's a wild story. Check it out.

    Show Notes

    [00:00] Introduction on of Cowboy Buzz
    [02:07] Moving to Las Vegas, working at The Stardust
    [20:53] Brilliant mob casino strategies
    [23;10] Tony Spilotro and Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal
    [27:19] Becoming a shift boss Foxy's Firehouse
    [29:28] Did certain dealers cheat players?
    [31:06] A wild craps swing on credit and Milton Jaffe
    [35:20] Milton Jaffe magic trick
    [37:06] Opening a restaurant in Las Vegas
    [41:09] Stories about dealers, cheating, and work ethic
    [46:59] Cowboy Buzz's juice is revealed
    [48:51] Naked women tanning at The Tropicana pool
    [55:53] Becoming "Cowboy Buzz"
    [1:02:07] Playing rugby age 73
    [1:04:51] Meeting Max Rubin
    [1:09:05] The first Blackjack Ball
    [1:10:30] Being a clown diver at Caesars Palace
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Jon Rogers of Carib Sports

    Jon Rogers of Carib Sports
    Sep 22 2025
    Jon Rogers was an old-school bookie. He started booking baseball with his classmates in 6th grade, graduated to parlay cards in high school, and went pro after high school. He lived, and booked through a seismic change in the bookmaking industry. He went from the old days of taking bets over the phone, writing on slips of paper, to moving offshore, and the rise of internet betting.

    Show Notes


    [00:00] Introduction of bookmaker Jon Rogers of Carib Sports
    [00:59] Jon’s childhood and early gambling experiences
    [03:52] Booking parlays in high school and lottery numbers
    [08:46] State lotteries broadcast drawings
    [11:11] Kickbacks and paying for protection
    [13:06] Super Bowl 1990 FBI raid
    [16:52] Charges, recordings, taxes, and going to Vegas
    [21:37] Antigua tax laws, bookmaking on paper, then with software
    [29:28] 1990 case ends
    [32:32] Continuing operations in Antigua, accepting credit cards, betting volume, and margins.
    [35:02] 2003 raid, The Patriot Act
    [46:42] The SAFE Port Act and closing down
    [48:44] Life after bookmaking, settling the case, and living happily ever after
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    55 mins
  • Mac King

    Mac King
    Aug 23 2025
    Mac King has been performing his comedy magic in Las Vegas for 25 years. His show is hilarious, and thoroughly entertaining.

    [00:00] Introduction of magician Mac King
    [00:50] What’s the first magic trick that Mac remembers?
    [04:39] When did Mac start doing magic?
    [06:06] Mac’s paid performance
    [08:19] Mac’s career plans after high school
    [12:36] Working with Lance Burton
    [14:47] “It’s Magic” in Los Angeles
    [16:38] Life after college, comedy clubs
    [18:51] Intersection of gambling, magic, and card cheating
    [21:06] Mac King’s Excalibur show
    [22:58] Performing with a bloody thumb
    [34:06] Houdini's naked rope escape
    [37:47] Future plans and why Mac still loves performing
    [39:58] Life outside of magic
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    42 mins
  • Nigel Eccles - Fan Duel Co-Founder

    Nigel Eccles - Fan Duel Co-Founder
    May 11 2025
    My guest on this episode is Nigel Eccles, co-founder of Fan Duel.

    [00:00] Introduction of Nigel Eccles, co-founder of FanDuel
    [00:48] Nigel’s background and first company
    [02:04] Nigel’s educational background and interest in gambling, selling variance
    [06:59] Joining Flutter and prediction markets, exchange models
    [10:04] Founding FanDuel, fantasy sports, sports betting
    [14:31] Sports betting in Nevada, over-regulation and limited innovation
    [18:47] Leaving FanDuel
    [20:08] Vertical businesses, pandemic spike and whipsaw
    [20:59] Bettor are getting dumber, banning winners, and the popularity of parlays
    [24:20] Sharps, betting patterns, cat and mouse games, and taking sharp action
    [27:24] BetHog online crypto casino, innovation, and payment processing fees
    [31:42] Managing crypto volatility
    [33:17] The future of online gaming and crypto
    [36:10] Final thoughts

    X.com/nigeleccles
    Bethog.com
    Betdex.com
    FanDuel.com
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    40 mins
  • Lauri Thompson episode 16

    Lauri Thompson episode 16
    Feb 19 2024
    Lauri Thompson came to Las Vegas as a dancer in 1980. She went from Las Vegas strip entertainer to a top entertainment attorney, with a stop along the way as Susie Spirit on the original GLOW - Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.

    You can reach me at lifeisagamblepod@gmail.com, or find me on Twitter @RWM21. If you like the show please tell a friend you think might like it, or if you are really ambitious leave a review wherever you listen.

    Here is the clip of Lauri getting her arm dislocated in an episode of GLOW.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDxYpEKotyU
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    48 mins
  • Billy Baxter episode 15

    Billy Baxter episode 15
    Feb 9 2024
    Billy Baxter is a legend in the gambling world. Today we focus on his time as a boxing manager, and some very high stakes golf games.

    You can reach me at lifeisagamblepod@gmail.com, or find me on Twitter @RWM21. If you like the show please tell a friend you think might like it, or if you are really ambitious leave a review wherever you listen.
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    33 mins
  • Nicholas Forte - Pastry chef Episode 14

    Nicholas Forte - Pastry chef Episode 14
    Jan 20 2024
    Nicholas Forte is the corporate pastry chef for Tao Group - west coast. What drew me to Nick's story is that straight out of pastry school he went to the only 3-Michelin-star restaurant in the state of Nevada, and said, "I want to work here." He got the job at Joel Robuchon. You can see examples of Nick's work on his Instagram account. https://www.instagram.com/fortenj/

    You can reach me at lifeisagamblepod@gmail.com, or find me on Twitter @RWM21. If you like the show please tell a friend you think might like it, or if you are really ambitious leave a review wherever you listen.
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    19 mins