I'm now in the twilight of my career, just as American sports betting is undergoing perhaps its most dramatic evolution. I'm caught square in the middle of a national debate over expanded legalized sports betting. It's something I've believed for decades would benefit the industry and better protect the integrity of the games, but as the discussion heats up, I'm worried about Nevada's place in the future, as well as my own. What a wild ride it's been, though, as a 40-year bookmaker in Las Vegas! A college kid from Pittsburgh, I learned quickly why one particular gentleman at the Stardust sports book was allowed to name the point spread on his bets. Years later, I experienced the stress of taking care of three million-dollar whales, including Account 1285, and they weren't even my most dangerous adversaries. A powerful sports-betting syndicate teamed up with a compromised executive to go after my job and control of the sports book. It was just one of hundreds of bookie-vs.-bettor battles I've faced.

They never seem to understand that I want to win, too. For decades, I've looked at life from a bookmaker's perspective. Knowing I'm on the hook for millions daily has challenged me as a husband, a father, and a man with religious convictions. I've sweated Super Bowls, blockbuster fights, and fixed games, and I've witnessed scams by both bettors and bookmakers. Throughout it all, I've stayed conservative in my principles and strict in compliance - two qualities that aren't exactly appreciated by bettors looking for an edge. But things are changing. Technology is evolving, passing me by in some cases. Scrutiny from the feds is more intense than ever, and bettors and up-and-coming bookmakers continue to push the limits of Gaming Control's rules and longtime industry ethics.

How do I make it to the end?.