Why Is Everything Gambling Now?

<p dir="ltr">Betting has infiltrated nearly every part of our culture.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Attending a sporting event? You&rsquo;re surrounded by ads for DraftKings and FanDuel. Watching the Oscars? You can bet on that too. There&rsquo;s even a market for betting on the upcoming midterm elections. No matter where you look, betting is everywhere.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Sam is joined by tech journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.patreon.com/cw/MaxRead">Max Read</a> to unpack how gambling became omnipresent, how prediction markets are already influencing the entertainment we consume, and what we stand to lose as a culture in a world that rewards algorithmic slop.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Max&rsquo;s latest piece in the New York Times Magazine is titled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/04/magazine/gambling-prediction-markets-statistics.html">&ldquo;How Everything Became Gambling.&rdquo;</a> He&rsquo;s also hosting the &lsquo;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/column/hard-fork">Hard Fork</a>&rsquo; podcast.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Check out more reporting in his &lsquo;<a href="https://www.patreon.com/cw/MaxRead">Read Max</a>&rsquo; newsletter.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><em>The Sam Sanders Show</em> is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.</p>

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