Never Enough Zeroes

When Joel Soper placed his first “sure thing” bet at the Detroit Race Course back in 1987, he never imagined that such an innocent gesture might lead him down the path to gambling addiction. But now, after tossing millions of dollars into the bonfire of unfulfilled dreams, Joel is stepping out of the shadows to bare his soul about the realities of compulsive sports betting. Never Enough Zeroes is an unflinching and searing portrayal that exposes the all-too-human foibles of a man trapped on the treadmill of obsession. Co-author Philip Wyeth captures the essence of Joel’s tortured existence by telling his unforgettable life story with compassion, humor, and literary flair. The result is a memoir that will touch readers from all backgrounds as it throws a lifeline to anyone caught in the relentless undertow of addiction who also dreams of creating a better version of themselves. “I’ve made millions of dollars with my silver tongue, but it always just slips through my fingers...” As more states legalize gambling across the nation, Joel’s story is an especially timely warning about this scourge where losses often extend beyond money into broken relationships and mental health issues. The proliferation of live betting has the potential to turn a generation of unwitting sports fans into nothing more than rats frantically tapping their phone screens for the next dopamine rush. This book is a call to action! It raises a banner of hope amid a sea of desperation, and signals the start of a new alliance which is weaving a safety net so that addicts of all stripes might never hit rock bottom again. As Joel continues his difficult journey as a “work in progress,” he hopes that Never Enough Zeroes will be a worthy addition to the self-help canon, as well as a companion piece to the mental health professional’s bookshelf. “If you know you’re powerless over gambling, how can you make gambling powerless over you?”