Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Table Stakes: Many gamblers will never break up with their bookie for two main reasons. Kevin is not a heavy-he’s not the kind of guy swinging a baseball bat at your kneecaps-but he does employ “empty threats” like texting a gambler their home address if they miss a payment as a way to say, “I know where you live.” Of course, whenever a player cannot pay in full, they get charged interest. And if you need another week to pay, that's cool, you know? Obviously, you wouldn't have that luxury with DraftKings or FanDuel.” I have players in Jersey, where it’s legal, because it’s much more convenient to deal with me. “I haven't lost a single player to the legal books. “People often bet money they don't have,” says Kevin. The bookie’s secret weapon? Allowing bettors to gamble on credit. Even though legal sports gambling is available in 26 states and Washington, D.C., Kevin balks at the idea that betting apps like DraftKings or FanDuel are competition. Lately, he’s been busy signing up new customers ahead of the first NFL game of the season-the Dallas Cowboys play the reigning Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers Thursday night-by offering current players a $100 bonus for every gambler they bring to him.
