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Littlefield: Imagining The Future Of Sports Betting

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Bill Littlefield imagines the future of sports betting. (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images)
Bill Littlefield imagines the future of sports betting. (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images)

After the Supreme Court's recent decision regarding the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, legalized sports betting will be a reality, at least in some states. Bill Littlefied imagines what that might be like.


[Sound of phone ringing]

Narrator: It’s an early Sunday morning in the autumn of … well, some year in the future. The near future.

[Sound of phone ringing]

Narrator: It’s too early in the morning to be calling your bookie because, hey, in the near future, it’s always too early to be calling your bookie — and it’s also unnecessary.

[Sound of phone ringing]

Bookie: Yeah? What?

Gambler: Sid?

Bookie: Who’s this?

Gambler: It’s Jack, Sid. What do you got for me?

Bookie: What do I got? What are you talking about?

Gambler: The line on the Patriots, the over/under …

[Sound of phone being hung up]

Gambler: Sid? Sid?

[Sound of phone ringing]

Bookie: What the heck’s the matter with you?

Gambler: What do you mean? I asked you about the line for the Pats, that’s all. I got a grand I want to get down —

Bookie: What’s a’ matta with you? You don’t watch the news? Go to the casino. You don’t want to go to the casino, go down the convenience store, there, where you get your lottery tickets, your scratch tickets, whatever, and you put the money on the Pats, instead. Or you do both. Whatever. You don’t need me anymore.

Gambler: But Sid … Sid … it’s not about need.

Bookie: What are you talkin’ about?

Gambler: I miss the adventure, Sid. The risk. It’s no fun anymore now it’s legal, and everybody’s doin’ it.

Bookie: Everybody was always doin’ it.

Gambler: But now they're doin’ it while they’re pushin’ baby carriages, Sid. While they’re checkin’ their phones. While they’re stoppin’ in for bread and milk.

Bookie: That reminds me …

Gambler: Come on, Sid. A grand on the Pats, how many points am I giving?

Bookie: You’re outta luck, kid … so to speak. See what I did there?

Gambler: Uh ...

Bookie: Look, I got priced out by the state. I’m not in that line of work anymore.

Gambler: (Pause) Oh. So, if you don’t mind me asking, what are you doin’ now, Sid?

Bookie: Rehab, kid. I got a little joint down the Cape, room for 20 at a time, two bathrooms, so it’s co-ed and everything.

Gambler: Rehab?

Bookie: Sure. You can’t beat ‘em, you … well, not exactly join ‘em, I guess, but work something on the other end. Somebody’s gotta help all these idiots started losing their shirts on football, basketball, baseball, hockey, whatever, now it’s socially acceptable.

Gambler: So you’re helping people to stop gambling?

Bookie: Who knows more about it than me?

Gambler: Oh. OK. Well, I’m glad you’re makin’ out, Sid.

Bookie: Yeah, don’t worry about me, kid. I always find a way.

[Sound of phone ringing]

Gambler: You still got more than one phone line?

Bookie: Old habits, kid. I gotta go. Probably somebody losin’ his house.

[Sound of phone ringing]

Bookie: Sid’s Helpline and Home Place. I bet I can help. Just kiddin’. What can I do for you today?

This segment aired on May 25, 2018.

Headshot of Bill Littlefield

Bill Littlefield Host, Only A Game
Bill Littlefield was the host of Only A Game from 1993 until 2018.

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