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John Semley on the Gamblification of America

On this episode of The Nation Podcast, John Semley on the dangers of accessible sports betting.

D.D. Guttenplan and John Semley

May 26, 2025

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John Semley on The Gamblification of America | The Nation Podcast
byThe Nation Magazine

For sports fans in the US, betting has never been more common, or more accessible. But beneath the surface of this booming pastime, a darker story is unfolding. Writer John Semley joins the podcast to examine the implications of all this access, not just in American sports, but across global betting markets, and how our era of gambling reflects a new world order some economists are calling "casino capitalism." Semley’s feature, “Casino Capitalism 2.0,” appears in the June issue of The Nation.

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For sports fans in the US, betting has never been more common, or more accessible. But beneath the surface of this booming pastime, a darker story is unfolding. Writer John Semley joins the podcast to examine the implications of all this access, not just in American sports but across global betting markets, and how our era of gambling reflects a new world order some economists are calling “casino capitalism.” Semley’s feature, “Casino Capitalism 2.0,” appears in the June issue of The Nation.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Will New Jersey and Virginia Send Trump a Message? | The Nation Podcast
byThe Nation Magazine

Across the country, Democratic leaders and voters are beginning to push back against Trump’s cruelty and chaos. Some are cautiously optimistic that a few key state races could serve as a crucial odd-year referendum—with major implications for voters, donors, and even Republican politicians who may reconsider their allegiances after significant MAGA defeats.

Joining us today is our own national affairs correspondent, John Nichols, who, in our July issue, turned his focus to two potential bellwethers: Virginia and New Jersey. He spoke with politicians, strategists, and activists to understand what’s at stake this fall, and who might be best positioned to deliver a winning message. 

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D.D. GuttenplanTwitterD.D. Guttenplan is editor of The Nation.


John SemleyJohn Semley is a writer based in Philadelphia. His writing has also appeared in The Baffler, The New Republic, and The Guardian. He is the co-host of Slow Learners, a podcast about books.


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