Journalist Declan Lynch"s journey begins with a deposit of 100 in an online betting account, kicking off an honest attempt to explore the mysterious allure of gambling. Braving Paddy Power, the Premiership and Belgian women"s tennis tournaments on Eurosport, Lynch"s darkly humorous diary entries reveal the strange logic behind the punt—and of course there"s always the chance of winning a little free money along the way. Drawing on the wise words of sages from Dostoevsky to Corleone to explain, justify, and occasionally even excuse his predilection for a punt, Lynch offers a rare glimpse inside the mind of that ever-sanguine individual—the gambler.