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The Big Dig

Never in American history has it been so easy to gamble, legally at least. We’ve got casinos, sports betting, online poker, keno — but it was all made possible by state lotteries, which brought gambling out of the shadows and into the public square — into the government itself. 

“Scratch & Win” follows the unlikely rise of America’s most successful lottery. We begin in 1970s Boston, with state bureaucrats going toe to toe with mafia bookmakers, and each other, as they struggle to launch the state's greatest innovation: the scratch ticket. But the story reaches all the way to the present moment. How do we feel about the gambling industry that lotteries helped summon into being? And should the state be in this business at all? 

“Scratch & Win” is made by the Peabody Award-winning team behind “The Big Dig,” produced by GBH News and distributed by PRX.

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Credits:

Host and scriptwriter: Ian Coss

Executive Producer: Devin Maverick Robins

Producers: Isabel Hibbard and Ian Coss

Story Editor: Lacy Roberts

Editorial Advisor: Jen McKim

Fact Checkers: Ryan Alderman and Isabel Hibbard

Scoring and Music Supervision: Ian Coss

Graphic Design: Bill Miller

Project Manager: Meiqian He


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Recent Reviews
  • popcorn8082
    Great podcast
    Loved the podcast - informative and entertaining!
  • SA Seif
    A Deep Understanding of the Lottery and Gambling
    This series, like the previous series on infrastructure and the “Big Dig,” was fascinating and educational on how a state like Massachusetts became the leader in state lotteries. To Ian Coss and his team that put together both podcast series - your efforts are much appreciated as these series are on my top ten list. Please keep up the great work as I am looking forward to listening to the next podcast series.
  • ohgodireveiwedsomething
    love both seasons 🥰
    this is the best kind of podcast: a deep dive about a thing you didn't particularly care about that turns you into that annoying person in the room who won't shut up about the nerdy stuff they just learned on this podcast.
  • Ravelo201
    Great podcast
    Informative. provocative, and well document. One of the most insightful podcasts I have listened to!
  • stoliosoda
    Super interesting, really well written, produced, and read.
    This was a fascinating history lesson. I've been living in Boston since '88 and had no idea that MA had the biggest lottery in the country or that its origin began less than a generation before i arrived. Really fantastic work all around - firs to and foremost, it's great storytelling. Unusually good writing, production, and voice work. no notes!
  • BJT787
    Excellent
    Great podcast! So interesting and informative.
  • ilovehannah
    Worth the listen
    This pod is very interesting and engaging on a topic I really hadn’t thought that much about. I’m very glad I took the time to listen and can’t wait for their next season.
  • Thomas McC.
    Fantastic
    Incredibly detailed history on a little known subject. Ian Coss and the team deserve accolades for the ability to take a mundane topic and use it as a medium to discuss politics, budgets, and state government.
  • Dog Person ;)
    So interesting!
    Captivating! Love this pod!!
  • Burleith20007
    Fascinating History
    This is an extremely well produced documentary podcast — about the lottery, Massachusetts politics, national politics, gambling, technology, and so much more. I have lived here for decades and learned so much — kudos to Ian Koss and his team. Looking forward to hearing what they take on next.
  • diggitydiggs
    Excellent!
    Well researched, well structured, entertaining & informative! I’d give 10 stars if I could…
  • Designdude6stringslayer
    Entertaining and informative!
    This is a great podcast to listen to if you like hearing stories that combine people, politics, mafia, economic, and historic content. Great show!
  • BridgesHillsValleys
    Excellent
    Captivating from beginning to end
  • K in MetroWest Boston
    Great story telling
    Another great series, with lots to contemplate at end. Love the interviews and narration that knit the story together.
  • MLynn29
    Excellent
    This is a fascinating and well researched account. And Ian Coss finds such interesting topics to present. The first podcast on The Big Dig was also fantastic. Can’t wait for the stories to follow.
  • GreenwichVillage
    Great Listen
    Another great job!!
  • AdApple123
    Fantastic
    Great reporting and extremely interesting content. One of my favorite podcasts.
  • JackMac56
    Winner!
    I wanna invite this guy over for Thanksgiving and you will too! Super interesting super smooth Boston strong!
  • Nicole Curt
    Highly recommend both seasons!
    Thanks for the great reporting and hope you’ll make another season!
  • kdubs1978
    Really enjoyed this!
    What a great listen! Subject matter was interesting and the story telling is on point. Well done GBH
  • KhaosTian
    Great storytelling!
    The show is awesome and the storytelling makes the history not boring to learn! Hope we’ll get more in the future.
  • JSP in SF
    Top Notch
    I’ve listened to the Big Dig and Scratch and Win and both are in a category of their own. They dive into the recent past to blend history and reporting to give us stories that are more about Massachusetts than the stories themselves. The production and writing is too-notch. They are the best long form storytelling I’ve heard and I will listen to whatever the next series is about. I am not a native of Massachusetts nor do I live in the Bay State.
  • PBS watcher
    Excellent reporting
    Both seasons are deeply reported, compelling stories, and great studies in the workings of government.
  • City of Boston Resident
    Riveting
    This podcast is so well done. Full of interesting interviews and larger themes, deeply researched and nuanced. I’ve lived in boston for 25 years and I learned so much from this podcast. The fact that MA pioneered state sponsored gambling really blows my mind. I live in the city and I see people buying scratch tickets every single day. This history lives on in MA and City politics (the Prince of Darkness is still in office!) - a must listen!
  • Pds2152
    Amazing storytelling
    WGBH knows how to tell a compelling story. This podcast series is right up there with frontline in telling a complete story from all angles.
  • MarkTMcl
    Really enjoyed both seasons
    I’ve listened to both seasons and really enjoyed both.
  • Frankienoodles
    Looks boring, is absolutely fascinating!!
    Both seasons are awesome, they sound so arcane at face value, but then you listen and it’s wild! Case-in-point, I sent this show to a friend in NY who has never even been to Mass, she is not too interested in either infrastructure or the lottery, and yet she is binge listening to the seasons as we speak. Excellent show, can’t wait for the next season. Last thing I’ll say- this show is actually how I found and developed a love for WGBH and all their other shows. I had no idea how much great content they make until I discovered season 1: the big dig.
  • Bunchesandink
    Loved it!
    Loved the Big Dig podcast this team did, and this one was just as good. Entertaining, educational and interesting. I grew up in Boston and still live here but I feel like I don’t know enough about its history. Thank you!!
  • Gittap
    Another excellent deep dive
    I learned a lot from the Big Dig podcast and again now from Scratch & Win. There was so much I did not know about recent-ish Massachusetts history and how things (like the Big Dig, and now state-run gambling) happened in this state. It helps to explain some of the current dynamics with the statehouse, prop 2.5, and local government as well. I’m looking forward to the next season!
  • Adam_G
    Really interesting
    Loved the Big Dig season also.
  • MigityMac
    Massachusetts History
    This series is interesting in local history that isn’t well told, but is immensely interesting and entertaining
  • beziman
    One of the BEST podcasts out there!!
    Scratch & Win is absolutely amazing. Such a great listen. You won’t be disappointed!
  • Bankers-Anonymous
    Great show
    Tremendous reporting detail, telling the history of Massachusettts
  • Elyse D
    So good!
    This podcast tells interesting stories in a nuanced way. I live on the West Coast and am still fascinated by every story they tell!
  • ELMTREE1
    Good show
    Great job
  • kman.forever
    10/10 WGBH is the best!
    Just finished the Big Dig Season 1 and my goodness, just amazing coverage & context. Was always so curious about the Central Artery Project & the subsequent Big Dig details having grown up observing from afar. Can’t wait to listen to Season 2 and following seasons. YOU ROCK WGBH! It’s Kevin from Boston Light & Sound. I and we always love working events with you all!! You are a wonderful pillar for the city of Boston.
  • Renosis:3
    Phenomenal journalism and storytelling
    This podcast is a masterclass in journalism and storytelling. The combination of in-depth reporting, compelling interviews, and well-curated archival media makes for an incredibly engaging experience. Despite having no personal connection to the area, I found myself fully immersed in the powerful stories being told. The effort put into tracking down and interviewing key individuals is truly impressive. On top of that, the narration is thoughtful, and the music and sound design are tastefully done—enhancing the story rather than distracting from it. A must-listen for anyone who appreciates top-tier investigative storytelling. Thank you from Chicago!
  • AVF 15
    Impressed!
    This is terrific journalism! Ian tracked down and talked to many people and got them to open up. Great storytelling!
  • Unicorns and colors
    A Boston treasure
    So fun to learn about the history of the place I live in. This has been a well researched podcast, and I love the original historical audio
  • Steph_726
    Recommend to everyone!
    Two fantastic seasons, can’t wait to hear the next topic! I’ve sent this podcast to family and friends - in my opinion, it’s a must-listen show. The storytelling is so compelling, and the historical context and interviews make for such a fascinating and high quality program. Appreciate what the team does!
  • CB__________
    I didn’t know a local show could be this good
    First, amazing story and reporting from the team. I’m a lifelong Massachusetts resident and had no idea about this history. Second, huge fan of Ian’s storytelling style. Particularly enjoyed the last episode with the exploration of morality in addition to the more straightforward historical reporting. Lastly, that inquisitive, vaudeville-esque piano melody throughout the show was absolute perfection and supported the content splendidly. Looking forward to season three!
  • Asa 1a3!
    Great show
    I love all the detail and nuance. Really great storytelling!
  • mle1818
    Thrilling History Mysteries
    I love diving into these bits of history. The stories are so interesting and the way they’re structured feels like a you’re unraveling one piece of a mystery with each episode. Very creative, good interviews, background music and clips that add to the story, host is great…truly a lovely show and one I’ve listened to multiple times and shared multiple times. Please keep it up! Can’t wait to see what is covered next!
  • No nickname 555555
    Niche topics but more universal appeal than one would think
    I have no ties to Boston save a few positive tourist visits, but this podcast tells a really good story with plenty of factual context without getting too dry. It really captured my interest with season one’s Big Dig exploration. Season two felt like there was less of a story to tell and tried to pull more out, hence the 4 stars instead of 5, but I’m looking forward to seeing what else they dig into! Definitely worth a Follow!
  • Theflyingnurse
    Obsessed
    Ian and the team do such amazing work! If you grew up in or around New England, these topics affected your life (or your parents!) If you live here now, this is a great way to learn more about things that shaped our lives today. I love how each episode unfolds. The work that went into each one is apparent. I feel the same about the Big Dig series too! I would rate this higher than 5 stars if I could. Looking forward to the next series from this team!
  • Greenhat-kq
    Original, quirky, fascinating
    I grew up in the Boston area in the 80s and I was pleasantly surprised to discover this podcast delving into so many interesting facets of Massachusetts history, culture and politics. Really fun to listen to and I learned a lot! Highly recommend.
  • sandy-chan
    Excellent podcasting
    I love these deep dives into politics and bureaucracy making seemingly boring subjects very fascinating. The host’s voice is also pleasant to listen to.
  • KGK7
    Fascinating!
    I don’t live in Massachusetts and I never play the lottery in my home state, but I found Scratch & Win fascinating and hung on every episode. The profiles of the people involved in creating and maintaining the lottery are well drawn - what a cast of real-life characters. The pod does a great job of presenting a facet of contemporary American history. Highly recommended!
  • jasontyree
    An absolute gem
    One of my favorite shows of all time. Amazing reporting and excellent storytelling.
  • CJ 1971
    Loved this from start to finish
    Was delighted to find this after having thoroughly enjoyed The Big Dig series. This team does a fantastic job of weaving together history, color commentary, old clips with new interviews, great context setting. Just can’t say enough. I was born in Massachusetts in 1971. Raised in the suburbs but my father was born and raised in Cambridge so he made sure we were always connected to Boston. Hope this team can continue making great podcasts about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Well done!
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