Life is a Gamble - Nigel Eccles Fan Duel Co-founder

 My guest on this episode is Nigel Eccles, co-founder of Fan Duel.

podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/nigel-eccles-fan-duel-co-founder--66022137

[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

Buddy Frank 2025 - casinos using AI

Bob and I are back with an interview with Buddy Frank to talk about how casinos are now using AI to evaluate players.

podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/buddyfrank2025--63421580

[00:00] Introduction of Buddy Frank [01:10] The evolutions of AI in casinos, falling costs, data analysis [03:52] Using data to assess how player ADT changes with hotel stay [08:58] Analyzing player performance [11:55] ChatGPT, large language models being used to finetune offers [15:51] Video poker products that calculate player specific player ADT [21:38] Cameras in machines, facial recognition, privacy concerns [23:43] MGM banning slot hustlers, persistence machines, must-hit-by [32:46] Some operators are 86'ing slot players [37:07] Misjudging players, challenges assessing table games players [42:48] Reno rewards program story, loopholes [44:29] Churn, tailoring offers mid-session [47:24] Sports betting data analysis [48:25] Adoption of AI over the next five years [53:53] Recommended: Blood Game by Jeffe Boats

Bob and RWM - What have we been up to?

 Bob and I sit down at the end of 2024, and talk about what we have been doing gambling wise for the last year.  Both of us seem to be working harder than ever.

Podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/bob-and-rwm-what-have-we-been-up-to--63421885

[00:00]  Introduction
[00:42]  Is Richard still retired?
[05:19]  The U.S. sports betting market
[07:52]  Betting partnership dynamics
[10:39]  Successful bettors making fundamental gambling mistakes
[12:33]  Bob’s sports betting
[17:58]  Bob’s slot experience
[26:58]  Slot hustling, getting information, solving games
[34:52]  How many hours a day is Bob working?
[38:08]  Beatable slots, obsolete information, and new skins
[39:12]  Recommended:  Erle Stanley Gardner’s Spill The Jackpot,
                                         David Baldacci books,
                                         Daniel Silva books

Gambling With an Edge - Elihu Feustel

 My guest this week is Elihu Feustel.  He is on this week to talk about his new book, Beyond The Odds, which you can pick up here https://amzn.to/3Behcxf.

podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/elihu-feustel--62083601

Blackjack Ball 2024

 Bob and I are back after a long hiatus to talk about this years blackjack ball. We are joined by John Chang, former head of the MIT team, Max Rubin, the host and creator of the blackjack ball, and Rick "Night Train" Blaine who was this year's inductee into the blackjack hall of fame.

podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/bjball2024--61058602

Gambling With an Edge - Dennis Rappaport

Bob and I are back to talk to Dennis Rappaport.  Dennis was a boxing manager, and promotor probably best known for managing Gerry Cooney.  He also was a brilliant PR man, and has some crazy stories from his years in "The Sweet Science."

podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/dennis-rappaport--58880349

Life is a Gamble - Lauri Thompson episode 16

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

podcast https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lthompsonfinal--58687137

Billy Baxter - episode 15

 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.

podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/billybaxter--58627231

Gambling With an Edge - Super Bowl 2024

Gambling With an Edge is back with Bob and I talking to Anthony Curtis, and Frank B. We talk about the Super Bowl coming here to Las Vegas, and then talk about other things happening around town. 

 podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/super-bowl-2024--58548259

Life is a Gamble - Nicholas Forte - Pastry Chef episode 14

 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.

Podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/nicholas-forte-pastry-chef-episode-14--58384447

Gambling With an Edge - Sports Books Behaving Badly with Bob Loeb

 Bob Dancer and I are back doing a Gambling With an Edge episode. We interview attorney Bob Loeb about the recent trend of legal, regulated sportsbooks stealing people's money.

Podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/user/7418966/loeb12-22-23final

Life is a Gamble - Joseph Merhi part 2 episode 13

My guest this week is Joseph Merhi.  In part 1 we covered Joseph moving to Florida from a small town in Syria when he was 18 years old.  He spoke no English, but through grit and perseverance he went on to produce over 100 movies.  This is part 2 of 2, in which we cover Joseph's move from Las Vegas to LA, and his pursuit of the movie business.

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.

Podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/user/7418966/joempt2final

Life is a Gamble - Joseph Merhi part 1 episode 12

My guest this week is Joseph Merhi.  Joseph moved to Florida from a small town in Syria when he was 18 years old.  He spoke no English, but through grit and perseverance he went on to produce over 100 movies.  This is part 1 of 2.

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.

Podcast https://www.spreaker.com/user/7418966/joempt1_1

Life is a Gamble - Frank Frigo episode 11

My guest this week is Frank Frigo.  Frank is one of the founders of Edj Analytics, and we talk about their football model named Zeus which they licensed to various NFL teams to make better playing decisions.

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.

Podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/user/7418966/frankfrigoepisode11f

NY Times article mentioned in the show.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/sports/football/eagles-analytics-super-bowl-lii.html

Life is a Gamble - Ed Miller episode 10

 My guest this week is Ed Miller.  Ed is on to talk about his new book, "Interception" which he co-authored with Matt Davidow.

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.

Podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/user/7418966/edmillerepisode10

Books by Ed Miller & Matt Davidow

The Logic of Sports Betting https://amzn.to/3QlG3Ec

Interception https://amzn.to/46Abjoz

Life is a Gamble - Sherriff AP episode 9

Sherriff AP chucked it all to become a professional card counter.  He had one of the worst losing streaks I have heard of, and I'm not just talking about losing money.  Everything in his life seemed to all go wrong at the same time.  I think most people would have quit, and never looked back, but he stuck it out. 

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.

podcast https://www.spreaker.com/user/7418966/sherrifapepisode9

Links

Sherriff AP being told card counting is illegal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jVerBdoN0c&t=222s

Life is a Gamble - Bob Dancer episode #8

Bob Dancer is the world's best known authority on Video Poker, having written many books, and countless articles on the subject.  He of course was my cohost and founder of Gambling With an Edge for 12 years.  But in this episode we are going back to when he was trying to be a professional backgammon player in the 1970s in Los Angeles, where cheating was a very real danger.  

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.

podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/user/7418966/bobdancerep8

Links

http://bobdancer.com

http://gamblingwithanedge.com

Life is a Gamble Jason Ladanye episode #7

Jason Ladanye is a professional, award-winning sleight-of-hand entertainer who has performed card magic all around the world for the last twenty years. Prior to magic he was musician who was touring as a keyboard player from the time he was 17, opening for everyone from the Rolling Stones to BB King.

You can reach me at lifeisagamblepod@gmail.com, or find me on Twitter @RWM21 or @lifeisagamblepod on Threads. 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.

Podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/user/7418966/jasonledanye

Links

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQsmxaMzYr76Yd1iqMEq8TA

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cardmagicbyjason/

Life is a Gamble - Bob Nersesian episode #6

This is a brief episode with our favorite gambling attorney Bob Nersesian. Bob is on with breaking news for professional gamblers regarding the trespass statute in Nevada.

You can reach me at lifeisagamblepod@gmail.com, or find me on Twitter @RWM21 or @lifeisagamblepod on Threads. 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.

Podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/user/7418966/bobntrespass

Life is a Gamble Don "The Dragon" Wilson episode #5

In this episode of the podcast, I chat with Don "The Dragon" Wilson, one of the most iconic martial artists, and action stars of the 1980s and 1990s. Don talks about his fight career, and his transition from fighter to action star.

You can reach me at lifeisagamblepod@gmail.com, or find me on Twitter @RWM21 or @lifeisagamblepod on Threads. 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.

Podcast - https://www.spreaker.com/user/7418966/donwilsonepisode5

Links

https://www.facebook.com/DonWilsonTheDragon

"How I Made A Hundred Movies In Hollywood" by Roger Corman  https://amzn.to/3QARdpo

Don Wilson movies - https://amzn.to/44acSHU

Don's Wikipedia page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Wilson_(kickboxer)