Be Better Bettors - Jon Rodgers

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hagrinBPR Review Date: 2024-03-08 04:45:22
Rating: 8.00

Notes:
Ran CaribSports. The first 15 minutes are just incredible old school origin story storytelling, I can't get enough of these stories because it reminds me of my family & how I grew up. Spanky, who I don't always agree with, is doing an amazing service getting these interviews that you're probably not getting any other way. I loved every second of this story although who knows maybe the rabid Aussie dingoes will probably hate this one too.

15:30 - Super Bowl 1990 - knock, knock, it's the FBI and an amazing story of being "prepared" for them to show up. Incredible story. 21:30 - "Hire a trial attorney so they know you're serious and you're going to fight this and not just make a deal." I've never been in that position, but interesting advice.

22:30 - Incredible story about as the case is going on, he's running numbers out of a car wash. At this time approached about opening up in Antigua by an old customer and runs into Kenny White from Vegas. Retells how the phone bill was 90 cents a minute (man those were the days). Meets Mike from BetCris (working for DollarBet at the time) on the first trip to Antigua. Also meets Jessica from WWTS (World Wide TeleSports run by Bill Scott I believe) (who I think is Jessica Davis if I have my history correct), but Antigua wouldn't let Jon hire any more Americans.

26:15 - 91-92, while the case is pending goes out to Vegas "and we tried to follow Boston Red to figure out who he bet, but you didn't want to ask him who he liked because he was volatile". Incredible, dying laughing.

29:30 - Starts advertising in LV as "the only sports book in the Carib that doesn't know what they are doing" (amazing) and gets contacted by RAS Ed (Golden) for an advertising deal with his website (1997 or 98). 31:15 - 1994 DonBest machine where you had to dial in (!) to get the updated lines! Eventually the get the internet and get some book software where they are told they can only take 150 bets at a time (!) so they meetup with WSEX' Spencer Hanson & he develops the newer, better software/website.

40:40 - Spanky brings up Jay Cohen getting indicted and starts painting the picture about how everyone thought they were doing it legally in Antigua. 95 they approach about a fee, Jon holds out. Hurricane happens, 97 they muscle up and want 100k/year licensing fee. Tries to hold out. Everyone pays, Jay Cohen gets pinched. Contacts his lawyer knowing he's going to have a similar problem soon (smart). June 3rd 2003 he gets raided again. 57:00 - quits when the law changes in 2006 in a port security bill and he quits the next day. 1:03:00 - tells an amazing story about a FedEx package that they knew nothing about that has quite the surprise inside.