How online gambling became the economic blood of the sports world

In a startling 44% increase from the previous year, an estimated $23 billion will be spent on sports betting on Sunday’s Super Bowl game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Just a generation ago, gambling was regarded as an intolerable pollutant on the integrity of sports that could never be permitted in professional leagues. Now, the legal sports betting industry has become the lifeblood of the sports world and a huge moneymaker. But with so many major figures in the sports world now openly, and probably also covertly, invested in sports betting — how long can this go on until the integrity of professional sports is compromised? Dave Zirin takes aim at the zombie gambling industry cannibalizing fans and the game itself in this edition of “Choice Words.”