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

Talk about riveting, if you've never read a book in your entire life - this is the book to read. In fact, you've never beaten a book - a sports book - in your entire life - this is the book to read. I knocked out the first four chapters on a roundtrip flight to and from Phoenix, and couldn't put it down once I got home. Stevo takes you aboard on his whirlwind life, as a street bookie learning the business, to his days as the pioneer of the offshore industry to the current lifestyle we all would love to lead. You could thump a bible ... you'll come away wanting to place a bet offshore, using a game he gave you, while lighting up a spliff rolled in a Naked Paper he designed. Enlighten and educate yourself with the greatest sports-betting story you'll ever read. I did.

I've been gambling for 25 years but never had any idea of the inner workings of the industry. I bought the book to get educated - never thought I'd get entertained at the same time. One funny, outrageous story after another. The author (Steve Budin) is kind of larger than life, a Tony Soprano-ish kind of guy (I kid you not; you should see the online videos he does on his SportsInfo site - never knew someone could blow so many smoke rings in 60 seconds LOL). Back to the book - it takes you behind the scenes of some of the sports biggest fixes back in the 50's right through the creation of the offshore sportsbook industry - which this guy Budin created. Keep in mind, however, this guy is not some dime-a-dozen handicapper telling you how much he wins; he was on the other side of the fence and his travels along the way make it a quick, entertaining read.

This might be the fastest I've ever read a book... I took it into the bathroom for some light reading and 45 minutes later my wife had to knock on the door to see if I was okay. I never put the book down... from start to finish it was awesome! Truly, an incredible story. If you've ever uttered the words "wanna bet" you must read this book. Thanks "Stevo".

If you have ever thought about betting on a game, you should read this book. If you think you know anything about the world of sports gambling, you have to read this book. If you regularly bet on games, you must read this book. Steve Budin seems to pull no punches as he tells, in intimate detail, the many ups and downs of working his way up from street bookie to pioneering the first off shore sports book. Exploiting a gray area in the law where US citizens can legally place bets overseas, he changed the way Americans bet on sports and created a billion dollar industry. Just as every other review posted here so far states, you can't put this book down. Well written and compelling, the story sucks you in and pulls you along for a wild ride. If you are thinking about placing a bet this weekend, you really have to read this book.

A compelling read from start to finish. The conversational tone of the writing makes you feel as though you are there living the highs and lows along with Steve, Sandy and the rest of the crew. You don't have to be interested in sports betting, drugs or even rock and roll to enjoy this book, it's a great story that will make a great movie some day. Highly recommended.