Customer Reviews

Bets, Drugs, and Rock & Roll: The Rise and Fall of the World's First Offshore Sports Gambling Empire

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

you still might not like this book. Two things you have to understand about this book, 1- this man has the greatest, most incredible father of all time (in his opinion) and 2- this author is total honesty personified, a swell guy. I mean, this guy once smoked 53 joints in a single day! That's not a typo, 53 joints! Adultery? We have it here in spades! But Stevo just couldn't help himself. So many lovely ladies that wanted him. He's sooo handsome, just look at the back cover (if you can).
The author might be a visionary in the sports betting world, but what a loser in every other way. Save your money.

I'm a 33 year old guy from Brooklyn, NY - I'm an avid reader and love sports and business. After reading the summary of Drugs, Bets and Rock and Roll, I assumed this book would be right up my alley. I was wrong. Although the story is interesting, the writing style is simply awful. I'm still amazed that an editor would allow a book so poorly written into production. I'm pretty sure Budin got paid by the word since he repeats lots of phrases and descriptions over and over again. Several times, I thought I had lost my place and was rereading earlier parts of the text. I wasn't.

In essence the story is about how awesome Steve Budin is. For all of his self-proclaiming drivel, you'd think he brokered world peace or invented space travel. The truth is that, backed by some NY muscle and money, he revolutionized the ease at which people can lose money gambling. The author continually talks about all of the good things which he accomplished in the industry as if it makes up for the countless lives ruined by gambling. The author's glorifiction of drug use and his objectification of women was so childish that it made him look foolish and pitiful. The author also finds time to insult the entire country of Panama and their "third-world" ways. As someone who's traveled throughout Panama, I found his depiction of the people and culture totally out of whack with reality. I guess coming from a guy who brags about hookers behind his pregnant wife's back, you can't expect much.

Like I said, it's a good story. Unfortunately the writing style and author's giant ego got in the way of a good tale. If you're stuck in a room for 3 hours and have to choose between reading this book or punching yourself in the face, read the book...but then punch yourself in the face for having wasted your time.

all he talks about is how great is father is (the guy seems to be in line for the nobel peace prize) and how smart he is when all he really is is a tool for the New York mob, which called all the shots. The guy is a shameless self promoter. I am ashamed I spend money on this book and immediately tossed it in the garbage.

A third grader could have written a better book. This guy supposedly has the father of the year who was 6 foot 4 and full of muscle with the brains of Einstein and could never make a mistake. He makes the old man out to be Gandhi.

He makes himself out to be the coolest guy since James Bond. He admits that he smoked weed and cheated on his wife on a regular basis (she is also a Miss Universe clone). At the end of course he talks about how he is devoted to Jesus his savior and how he dedicated his life to him.

The so called "adventures" he goes through are so trumped up with BS and tall tales that you have no idea where the truth ends and fiction starts.
He apparently knows every mobster and wise guy in New York and Miami. He claims to be an international jet-setter.

Of course one his good buddies is Stu Feiner. If you know anything about sports betting I don't need to go any further.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I did finish it out of some outside chance that the end would be better. That did not happen.

I had never heard of the guy and I follow this subject very closely. He really seems to be a two-bit broken down gambler with a trifle of a story that is blown way out of proportion.

If you like sports gaming and the stories that go with it find another book.

I've been gambling for 25 years but never had any idea of the inner workings of the industry. I bought the book to get educated - never thought I'd get entertained at the same time. One funny, outrageous story after another. The author (Steve Budin) is kind of larger than life, a Tony Soprano-ish kind of guy (I kid you not; you should see the online videos he does on his SportsInfo site - never knew someone could blow so many smoke rings in 60 seconds LOL).

Back to the book - it takes you behind the scenes of some of the sports biggest fixes back in the 50's right through the creation of the offshore sportsbook industry - which this guy Budin created. Keep in mind, however, this guy is not some dime-a-dozen handicapper telling you how much he wins; he was on the other side of the fence and his travels along the way make it a quick, entertaining read.

Talk about riveting, if you've never read a book in your entire life - this is the book to read.

In fact, you've never beaten a book - a sports book - in your entire life - this is the book to read.

I knocked out the first four chapters on a roundtrip flight to and from Phoenix, and couldn't put it down once I got home.

Stevo takes you aboard on his whirlwind life, as a street bookie learning the business, to his days as the pioneer of the offshore industry to the current lifestyle we all would love to lead.

You could thump a bible ... you'll come away wanting to place a bet offshore, using a game he gave you, while lighting up a spliff rolled in a Naked Paper he designed.

Enlighten and educate yourself with the greatest sports-betting story you'll ever read.

I did.

Damn that Steve Budin! I took the red eye from Seattle to Philadelphia with the intent of sleeping the majority of the flight. I planned on reading a chapter or two of Bets, Drugs, and Rock & Roll, and five hours later I was finished the book and dead tired.

Reading Bets, Drugs, and Rock & Roll gave me the same thrills that I get while hanging in a Las Vegas Sportsbook during March Madness.

Great book. For all Offshore betters it is a must read just to see what this industry has come from, and what Great strides that Steve Budin paved the way for.

I am a Football handicapper myself and am entangled in this business on a full time basis, just glad to see that some people are getting recognition in this business.

2 Thumbs Up Budin.

P.S Steve, let's talk business.

Received in time as a special gift for a friend who absolutely loved it. Great book for horse racing fans.

A fabulous look into the world of sportsbetting. Budin reels you in on page one and doesn't let go until you're finished. A must-have for any person who has ever gambled on a sporting event, be it through a sportsbook, casino or local bookie. Budin ranks right up there with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as a visionary who was ahead of his time.