Like This Video 0 6949

Added by James Bernardo August 22, 2015

Reno, Nevada–Today we were honored to interview celebrated historian, author and professor emeritus Dr. Richard Davies for our documentary. With 16 books to his credit (author/editor/co-editor), multiple professional awards and countless published articles, Professor Davies is the nation’s foremost historian on American sports, particularly sports gambling. In fact, his book “Betting the Line: Sports Wagering in American Life” remains the most authoritative account of the topic up to 2001, its year of publication. Professor Davies was also featured in the ESPN documentary “30 for 30: The Legend of Jimmy The Greek” produced in 2009 and available for viewing on Netflix.

Our interview covered a lot of ground on the rise of sports and gambling in American culture since the earliest settlements, the growth of Las Vegas, the transformation of sports betting venues from basic storefronts into main casino features, and America’s rollercoaster love-hate fascination with gambling. It was the lengthiest and most substantial interview we’ve done to date, and Professor Davies took all of our questions in stride and with utmost grace. His insights and extensive knowledge are a must-see for everyone!