The Dispatch Podcast The Rise of Gambling in the U.S.
27 snips
Mar 20, 2026 
David French, legal commentator on law and civil liberties; Megan McArdle, opinion writer on economics and public policy; Jonah Goldberg, political and cultural analyst. They explore why sports betting exploded, how fantasy and prediction markets have shifted incentives, regulation gaps and insider trading risks, and how gambling reshapes sports integrity and political strategy in the Iran conflict.
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Smartphones Turned Betting Into An Always‑On Habit
- Sports betting exploded because legalization plus smartphone apps removed friction and made wagering constant rather than episodic.
- McKay Coppins found legal U.S. sports bets rose from $4.9B in 2017 to ~$160B recently, illustrating the scale of the shift.
Losing Free Credits Shows How Apps Hook Users
- David French recounts getting promotional sign‑up credits and losing them quickly, showing how apps create a slot‑machine feel with in‑game prop bets.
- He says the house is designed to win and prop betting creates a real‑time addictive rush.
Prediction Markets Convert Everyday Secrets Into Insider Bets
- Prediction markets like Polymarket let people bet on everything and therefore monetize insider information beyond finance.
- Jonah Goldberg cites cases where entourage leaks (Super Bowl guest appearances) likely produced near‑certain winners.