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Sucker or cynic?

How McKay Coppins torched $10k and framed it as an indictment of sports betting

Maria Konnikova's avatar
Maria Konnikova
Mar 23, 2026
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If you’re even marginally connected to the world of gaming and gambling—and, honestly, even if you’re not—there’s a good chance you’ve either read or heard about the McKay Coppins piece in The Atlantic last week about his year as a sports bettor. If you haven’t, here are the Cliff’s Notes: Coppins, a Mormon, is not only prohibited from gambling but, per…

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