Former Las Vegas bookmaker and SBC Sports Betting Hall of Famer Art Manteris has inked a deal with Dey Street Books to publish his “no holds barred” memoir.
According to the release, The Bookie will reveal the inner workings of sports betting and include a cast of characters which includes some of the biggest names in sports, entertainment and business.
Manteris started his career in the industry while still a student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and went on to be a director at Caesars Palace and Vice President of the Las Vegas Hilton sportsbook.
He was also responsible for the development of the state’s first computer networking for race and sportsbooks in the late 1980s and has acted as a prominent policy contributor to a number of regulatory boards.
“Sports in America is at a crossroad. So I’m thrilled to have the opportunity with Dey Street Books to tell an important story about the past, present and future of sports and sports gambling,” said Manteris.
Manteris was inducted into the SBC Sports Betting Hall of Fame for his contributions to sportsbook development in Nevada.
He previously released a book, titled SuperBookie: Inside Las Vegas Sports Gambling, in 1991 that Manteris describes as “fun and fluff” and he says that his latest project will be “far more timely, hard-hitting and inevitably, more controversial”.
As well as recounting his time in the industry The Bookie will include lessons and warnings to sports bettors in the U.S.
Regulators pull college prop bets amid integrity concerns
Back in 2020 Manteris said that young and unpaid athletes were at the highest integrity risk during a panel on the topic at SBC Digital Summit North America.
Now in 2024 regulators across the U.S. are pulling individual college prop bets due to concerns over student-athlete safety and sporting integrity.
Both Ohio and Maryland have prohibited the offering of these styles of bets despite opposition from operators. In 2023 bettors wagered roughly $104.6 million on player props in 2023.
Most recently, New Jersey legislators introduced Bill S3080 which would ban prop bets. Currently in the state college prop betting is allowed however players are not allowed to place prop bets on games involving in-state colleges.
The actions of state regulators reflect the wishes of the NCAA. Last month, NCAA president Charlie Baker issued a statement calling for a blanket ban on prop bets due to the concerns over integrity and safety.
