Episode
Gambling, Pornography, and the Making of Modern America with Dennis Broe
- Podcast
- Explaining History
- Published
- Mar 6, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2916
- Processing state
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Summary
In this episode of the Explaining History Podcast, we're joined once again by writer and cultural critic Dennis Broe to discuss his new novel, *Pornocopia*, and what it reveals about the intertwined histories of the gambling and pornography industries in post-war America. Set in 1952, *Pornocopia* follows detective Harry Palmer through Los Angeles and Las Vegas at a crucial moment when two nascent industries—pornography and gambling—were beginning their long march from the criminal fringe to the centre of American economic life. It's a moment when the mob's low-level control of these enterprises was coming into conflict with larger financial interests seeking to "rationalise" them for mainstream profitability. Dennis brings his characteristic depth of historical analysis to the conversation, tracing the lines from 1950s smut peddlers to today's multi-billion dollar global industries. The statistics are staggering: global porn industry profits reached $76 billion in 2024—significantly larger than the entire US movie industry. Gambling revenues hit $64 billion in 2025, rising nearly 9% in a single year. Sports betting apps now saturate everyday life, and prediction markets like Kalshi are replacing traditional polling as arbiters of political outcomes. But beneath the numbers lies a darker story. Dennis explores how both industries are built on addiction and exploitation, how they lure people with promises of easy intimacy or quick riches while delivering the opposite. We discuss the life histories of porn actresses—almost invariably marked by childhood sexual abuse—and the way gambling has become a substitute for genuine human connection and reflection. The conversation ranges widely: from the Trump family fortune (amassed in saloons and brothels during the California g…