The Mario Rosenstock Podcast

The Secrets Behind the Bookies: How They Really Make Their Money

2026-10-31

Ever wondered why the bookies always seem to come out on top? Or whether those tempting accumulators, bet builders and big-race specials are quite as attractive as they look?

Economist and UCD Professor Karl Whelan joins me on this episode to lift the lid on the economics of sports betting. His new book, Fine Margins: How Economics Explains Sports Betting, explores the mathematics behind the odds, the strategies bookmakers use to protect their profits, and why some of the most popular types of bets offer surprisingly poor value for punters.

There's also a brilliant story involving my great friend, the late Tony Fenton, Paddy Power and a €16,000 win on a Roy Keane Gift Grub sketch reaching Christmas number one. And we'll revisit that classic Roy Keane musical moment from the archives.

Karl previously worked as an economist at the US Federal Reserve, so we also chat about Donald Trump, the state of the American economy and the possibility that the enormous sums being invested in artificial intelligence could be fuelling another financial bubble.

Tour alert: My brand new live stage show ‘Boom’ has just gone on sale Nationwide- Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford. Tickets at Ticketmaster & venue box office. See you there !

No. of episodes

296

Latest episode

2026-10-31

Where can you listen?

Join Ireland’s most popular comic satirist for brand new comedy, rants about the state of the world, and interviews with a twist. You never know what you’ll get by pressing play on this podcast, but you always know Mario Rosenstock will be there to welcome you in