Travel a road rich in possibilities and fraught with danger ...Journalist Declan Lynch's journey begins with a deposit of 100 in an online betting account, kicking off an earnest attempt to explore the mysterious allure of gambling. Braving Paddy Power, personal bankruptcy and Belgian women's tennis tournaments on Eurosport, Lynch risks all to reveal the strange logic behind the punt - and of course there's always the chance of winning a little free money along the way.

Drawing on the wise words of sages from Dostoevsky to Dunphy to explain, justify and occasionally even excuse his predilection for a punt, Lynch offers a rare glimpse inside the mind of that ever-sanguine individual - the gambler.