The Casino-fication of America: How Online Gambling Hooked a Generation

In his viral cover story for The Atlantic, “Sucker: My Year as a Degenerate Gambler,” McKay Coppins embedded himself inside America’s sports-betting boom—and learned just how dangerous the industry can be. In this lecture, Coppins brings that experience to life, blending personal narrative with reporting to examine how gambling apps are reshaping culture, exploiting behavioral psychology, and seeding institutional distrust. What begins as a funny, immersive story becomes a deeper look at addiction, attention, and the emerging “casino economy.” With particular relevance to college campuses, the lecture explores why young men are especially vulnerable—and how the runaway gambling industry could be reined in. The lecture will be held on the campus of Brigham Young University in the Hinckley Center on the third floor.