Life Real Loud: John Lefebvre, Neteller and the Revolution in Online Gambling

A writer such as Michael Lewis could knock a quirky business tale like this out of the park, but Reynolds, a veteran journalist, barely ekes out an infield single with this biography of a fascinating man and the online money-transfer firm that made him rich. Lefebvre, an aging rock-star wannabe with a law degree and a fondness for cannabis stumbles into the early days of the online gambling business and becomes rich beyond his wildest dreams. He blows millions on donations to environmental causes and hiring world-class musical talent to help him record his first album. Then the FBI comes knocking at his beachside mansion in Malibu to arrest him for racketeering. A writer such as Michael Lewis could knock a quirky business tale like this out of the park, but Reynolds, a veteran journalist, barely ekes out an infield single with this biography of a fascinating man and the online money-transfer firm that made him rich. Reynolds describes Lefebvre's car collection, sits in on his recording sessions and interviews friends and family. A portrait emerges of a restless but ultimately good-hearted ne'er-do-well who fell backward into great fortune, but nowhere do readers gain any real insight into the murky netherworld of online gambling or why the U.S. government, which tolerates bricks-and-mortar casinos, is so eager to stamp out betting online. Reynolds has a tiger by the tail but unfortunately lets it go. (Oct.)