But as the stakes get high, Lang’s picks start to fail, and Abrams’ customer base starts to flee and turn violent. Lang develops an alter ego “John Anthony” who Abrams turns into a TV star, offering betting advice on his cable channel. At the time of the film, sports betting is illegal in the US outside of Nevada, but companies can nevertheless profit by selling advice and taking a share of their clients’ winnings (placed via bookies in Nevada).Īs a partnership, Lang’s picks and Abrams’ business sense prove a dynamite combination and begin to attract million dollar investments. His reliable picks draw the attention of Walter Abrams (Pacino), a reformed problem gambling in New York who runs a sports consulting operation. He’s quickly given an assignment of picking the winners for the weekend’s college football games – a task where is profoundly successful. McConaughey is the lead as Brandon Lang, a football player who is forced to take a job at a call centre after a career-ending knee injury. The latest film in our gambling series focusses on the world of sports betting, with the Pacino / McConaughey blockbuster “Two for the Money”.
