The Secure Stakes Podcast is back with my AI bot friends discussing the latest article. Here is a quick summary before you dive into the audio:

* Big picture: The Soufan Center’s latest annual report highlights how modern security threats—terrorism, organized crime, and hybrid warfare—can increasingly intersect with the global sports ecosystem.

* Why it matters: A packed sports calendar this Spring and Summer —March Madness, MLB Opening Day, the Masters, the French Open, and the World Cup—creates high-profile targets of opportunity for terrorism, criminal activity, and gambling market manipulation.

* Rising risk: Non-state actors such as cartels, organized crime groups, and terrorist networks are gaining influence globally and can exploit sports events, betting markets, and fan communities as financial, informational, or symbolic targets.

* New battleground: Hybrid tactics—including cyber operations, disinformation campaigns, and AI-driven manipulation like deepfakes or fake injury news—could disrupt games, move betting markets, or erode trust in sports outcomes.

* Bottom line: Sports integrity and gambling oversight should be treated as part of the broader fight against hybrid threats and transnational crime, not just as regulatory or league compliance issues.

Secure Stakes by Matthew Wein is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

If you’d rather hear the ideas behind Secure Stakes this week than read them (or just want to take it on a walk), the AI bots are back with a podcast version to look AI risks or threats and sports gambling and integrity in more conversational way. Same core insights, a few extra riffs, and a chance to sit with the nuance behind the highlight reel.

Give it a listen and let me know what you think.

Secure Stakes by Matthew Wein is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

After a brief hiatus the Secure Stakes podcast is back. If you didn’t get a chance to read through my new proposal that I published yesterday then you can add the podcast to your list today.

The latest Secure Stakes is a proposal for a U.S. Government review board that could dissect integrity incidents or scandals and present public reports. Transparency is key to maintain trust across the sports ecosystem and this is one space where Congress could take decisive action.

Secure Stakes by Matthew Wein is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Football season is now over, which means fans and bettors alike will turn their attention to other sports. What is not going away though? Prediction markets or the threats and risks that come along with them from insider trading. Tune in to my AI bot friends talking about the latest Secure Stakes article which covers these threats and some potential mitigations. [Editors note: if you have suggestions for names for the bot hosts let me know.]

Secure Stakes by Matthew Wein is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Two AI bots talking about AI. It’s based on actual human writing (mine) but it seems like the perfect podcast topic for this week. Tune in for a recap of this week’s article about a new White House report on the coming economic gaps related to AI and what I think it portends for sports integrity and sports gambling.

Secure Stakes by Matthew Wein is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The Secure Stakes podcast is back after a week off. Tune in for my AI bot friends discussing the latest edition of Secure Stakes about a new proposed law in Tennessee to curb the rise in college student-athlete harassment.

They still have a tough time pronouncing my name correctly, but that aside it’s a pretty good 15 minute summary of this week’s article.

Secure Stakes by Matthew Wein is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Did you watch the Golden Globes last night and wonder what Polymarket is? Have you seen the reporting about news organizations signing deals to use prediction market data and found yourself thinking about how that might change news reporting? If you answered yes to any of those questions but didn’t have time to read yesterday’s Secure Stakes then download the latest episode of the Secure Stakes podcast to catch up and fill in some of those blanks.

Secure Stakes by Matthew Wein is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

After a lengthy break, my AI bot friends are back to talk about the latest edition of Secure Stakes. (And yes, they are still having trouble pronouncing my last name correctly.) If you are still playing catch up after the holiday break, take 10 minutes to listen to a summary of how lessons from cybersecurity explain why:-- Sports integrity incidents are symptoms of systemic risk, not isolated bad actors;-- Financial entanglements between leagues, betting platforms, and media make it easier to downplay those risks; and how-- If sports don’t build a cross-league integrity strategy, heavy-handed federal intervention will fill the vacuum.

See you later this week for the Weekly News Desk.

Secure Stakes by Matthew Wein is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

If you skipped reading yesterday’s article on tanking and integrity in the NBA and how it could impact homeland security just to wait for the podcast then you are in luck. Here are my two AI bot colleagues discussing yesterday’s post. Thanks for tuning in!

Secure Stakes by Matthew Wein is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The Secure Stakes podcast is back after a few weeks off! If your reading list is full after checking out a bit for the Thanksgiving holiday, cross this item off your list by listening to my AI bot pals discuss this week’s article about sports and critical infrastructure.

And if you are thinking about upgrading your subscription, this week you can get a 20% discount, just click below.

Secure Stakes by Matthew Wein is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.