A journalist investigating America's rapidly expanding gambling industry went to unusual lengths to understand the market firsthand, spending $10,000 of his employer's money in the process.

McKay Coppins, a writer for The Atlantic, used the funds as part of his investigation into the sports betting boom that has swept across the United States in recent years.

The investigation examined how Americans are increasingly placing bets not only on traditional sports but also on elections, award shows, and even military actions, reflecting the broadening scope of legal gambling options.

Coppins' approach of using actual money to participate in the betting markets he was covering represents an immersive journalism technique designed to provide firsthand insight into the gambling experience.

The sports betting industry has expanded rapidly since the Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on sports gambling in 2018, allowing individual states to legalize and regulate the practice.