Double or Nothing

How Two Friends Risked It All to Buy One of Las Vegas' Legendary Casinos

De: Tom Breitling, Cal Fussman

Narrado por: Patrick Lawlor

If Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn had come of age at the end of the 20th century looking for an all-American adventure, they probably would've headed for Vegas. However, they'd have been hard-pressed to go on a wilder ride than the one taken by Tom Breitling and Tim Poster to the top of the famed Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino.

Call them the Odds Couple. Breitling is the kid who lives next door, if you grow up in Burnsville, Minnesota. He hadn't seen a hundred dollar bill or The Godfather until he went to college. Poster comes from a family of oddsmakers who reach for the Doritos on football Sundays and scream for the point spread. He was whistling Sinatra and booking games at his Las Vegas high school.

Their unlikely friendship began in college over an eight-dollar veal parmigiana sandwich that led to a partnership in a hotel-reservation business. Starting with a desk, a chair, a pillow, and a telephone, Tim and Tom grew a company that they sold during the dot.com boom for $105 million. This allowed Tim to pursue his childhood dream of owning a casino and bringing back the glory days of Vegas.

When Tim ups the odds and raises the limits to give gamblers the best game in town, a craps player nicknamed "Mr. Royalty", who's on one of the hottest winning streaks in history, heads for the Nugget. When he begins to take Tom and Tim for millions, the partnership is put to the test. But Tim refuses to back off on the odds or the high limits, telling his partner, "It's a ballsy proposition here. It's gonna be a roller coaster ride. But we don't have a public company to answer to. It's just you and me."

When Mr. Royalty rolls 22 consecutive passes and rakes in a mountain of chips, he takes Tim and Tom to the brink. They must figure out a way to hold up the House.

Just as they do, the roller coaster ride really gets rolling - and the ride becomes crazier than they'd ever imagined.

©2008 Tom Breitling (P)2008 Tantor

Well narrated and interesting story

If you are looking for a good - not too long - not too boring - brief review of the internet bubble - early stages of housing bubble - story of probably 2 of the luckiest timed persons on the planet, you will love this read. Well narrated and moves quickly.

Awesome! Great narration, imo.

I think the narator nailed it. Tom wrote the book in first person, of course, and the narrator really made you feel you were listening to Tom talk. I absolutely loved hearing the entire story and being in the same age group as Tim/Tom felt their experiences struck really close to home.

A True Sucess Story

I watched the casino "reality" show and did not believe it. I wanted to know the real story and this book gave me that and more. It is a true sucess story but it is also a story about friendship.

Good narator.

Pretty good story

I did follow them on their reality TV show (which was bad) and I wanted to know how they made their money and why they left the Golden nugget. It did give me what I was looking for.

A look at lives of 2 guys who bought casino

Not bad story of journey to buying a casino. Wish story showed more of time in Vegas, and less of early years. These guys certainly had a little cockiness about them. Not my way, but maybe you need a bit of that to make it there.

Las Vegas Deals

Overall an interesting listen. Was not in love with the narration. A inside look into La s Vegas deals.

Great listen

One of my favorite stories. The writing and narration style is incredible. If you are a lover of business and Vegas, this one is for you.