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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 08: Xavier Legette #17 of the Carolina Panthers drops a pass while being guarded by C.J. Gardner-Johnson #8 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gambling

Sports Gambling Thrives On Clicks, Not Community

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Risk Week

Everything I Expect From Atlantic City, Based On The ‘Rugrats’ Vacation Episode

Ray Ratto

Head coach Doug Pederson of the Jacksonville Jaguars adjusts his headset prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills. He looks pretty goofy, and the JAMBORAY badge is imposed over the Jags logo on his shirt.

Jamboroo

A Bet You’ll Always Lose

Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds dives head first into home plate during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field during the early 1970s in Chicago

Pete Rose, All-American

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

A general view of the Draft Kings sign during the Major League Baseball game

DraftKings Introduces Fees To The World Of Sports Wagering

David Roth

Luka Doncic making a very silly WHOOO face after the Mavericks defeated the Timberwolves in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Western Conference Finals. He's got a hat on.

Podcasts

Garlic Shrimp And Slovenian Timelords, With Ray Ratto

MLB Makes A Convenient Example Of Several Gambling Bozos

Luis Paez-Pumar

Referee Peter Bankes shows a yellow card to Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United at Vitality Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Bournemouth, England.

Soccer

West Ham’s Lucas Paquetá Charged With Betting Breaches

Joel Zumaya of the Detroit Tigers pitches in a game against the Yankees in May of 2010. The facial hair is outrageous.

Make Gambling Embarrassing Again, With Justin Halpern

Kathryn Xu

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 25: Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara of the Los Angeles Angels looks on against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 25, 2023 in New York City. The Angels defeated the Mets 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Wildest Stuff Alleged In The Criminal Complaint Against Ippei Mizuhara

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, pictured with his translator, Ippei Mizuhara, prepares for a game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch.

Not Even An Ippei Mizuhara Guilty Plea Will Take MLB Off The Hook

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

The view of the F1 race from the Bellagio Fountain Club on the Las Vegas Strip. The club can hold 3,600 people and three-day tickets sell for $12,000. You can also see the Paris casino and its recreation of the Eiffel Tower.

College Basketball

In Las Vegas, It’s Not Who’s Your Team But What’s Your Parlay

Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United during the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and Borussia Dortmund at St. James Park on October 25, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Update: Sandro Tonali’s 10-Month Gambling Ban No Longer In Limbo

Israel Daramola

Quarterback Hunter Dekkers #12 of the Iowa State Cyclones throws the ball in the second half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Ames, Iowa. The Baylor Bears won 31-24 over the Iowa State Cyclones.

Iowa State QB Charged With Being A Normal 21st-Century Sports Fan

Patrick Redford

Shams Charania gestures during an interview.

Media Meltdowns

Shams Charania’s Whoopsie Sure Made Someone A Lot Of Money

COMMERCE CITY, CO - MARCH 3 : Max Alves of Colorado Rapids poses for a portrait at Dicks Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado on Thursday, March 3, 2022.(Photo by Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

MLS Proves Itself As World-Class League With Match-Fixing Scandal

Duane Banks Field, where the Iowa Hawkeyes baseball team plays.

College Baseball

Two More College Athletic Departments Swept Into Online Gambling Troubles

LAS VEGAS - AUGUST 24: An Elvis Presley impersonator sings to World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Chairman Vince McMahon during his 64th birthday celebration in the ring during the WWE Monday Night Raw show at the Thomas & Mack Center August 24, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pro Wrestling

How Would Betting On Pro Wrestling Even Work?

Little kids play basketball at The Palestra. Light brown court, red baseline. Purple and white teams, white team kid shooting against a purple team kid, it's a layup

Little Kid Basketball Is The Best Halftime Show

Golf

Phil Mickelson Sure Loves To Gamble, Possibly To His Own Detriment

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 11: Former Major League Baseball player Alex Rodriguez looks on during a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors at Wells Fargo Center on December 11, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Capital

A-Rod Got A Bunch Of Money To Build A “Sports Stock Market” App

Lauren Theisen

Sports Betting Apps Are So Easy To Use It’s Terrifying

A horse track that's all dark except from the reflection from the scoreboard

Horse Racing

The Neigh-t The Lights Went Out

DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 05: Jockey William Buick rides Modern Games after Albahr in the two hole wouldn't load into the starting gate before the start of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar Race Track on November 05, 2021 in Del Mar, California.