Lay the Favorite 2012

As Beth’s life in Florida devolves into a repetitive cycle of stripping and lap dancing, her father, Jerry, urges her to chase her long-time aspiration of moving to Las Vegas. There, she dreams of finding honest work as a cocktail waitress. Upon arriving in this dazzling city, Beth unexpectedly meets Holly, a fellow resident in her motel, who introduces her to the cunning professional gambler, Dink Heimowitz. Dink, who runs a betting operation through Dink, Inc., sees potential in Beth’s natural talent for numbers. This impresses him greatly, and she soon earns the affectionate moniker of “lucky charm.”

Yet, as Beth finds herself becoming closer to the much older Dink, his sharp-tongued wife, Tulip, draws a line, making it evident that she will not allow their relationship to flourish. Consequently, Dink, under the strain of Tulip’s insistence, is compelled to let Beth go, asserting he must distance himself from her.

In a twist of fate, a young journalist named Jeremy, visiting from New York, crosses paths with Beth at the casino. They form a connection and start planning for Beth to join him on the East Coast. The excitement and financial appeal of city life prove irresistible to Beth, leading her to decline Dink’s plea for her help during his losing streak.

After Dink’s breakdown results in significant layoffs at his firm, Beth decides to join Jeremy in New York. However, when Dink approaches her to discuss a potential return to his team, she grapples with an internal conflict between her loyalty to him and her ambition for a fresh beginning. Ultimately, she accepts an offer from rival bookie Rosie, trading her previous troubles for new ones.

As Beth immerses herself in Rosie’s dubious New York operations, she soon uncovers the sinister truth behind his pursuits—drugs and prostitution. In her quest for a way out, she connects with Dave Greenberg, a gambler entangled in debt and with links to the authorities, who might just hold the key to her liberation from this perilous lifestyle.

When Tulip and Dink journey to the bustling New York streets with a mission to assist their friends, Beth and Jeremy, they unintentionally stumble into an opportunity involving Greenberg. After coaxing valuable insights from him, they find themselves on a promising path.

Greenberg’s insider knowledge leads them directly to a New Jersey basketball team on the brink of a triumphant comeback. The excitement escalates as the game progresses towards its thrilling conclusion, culminating in a heart-stopping one-point win that leaves everyone—including them—breathless with joy.

This extraordinary tale, inspired by Beth Raymer’s true experiences, chronicles her fascinating journey. Though her college education served as a launching pad for her writing future, it was the escapades of her earlier life that laid the groundwork for this riveting story of friendship, determination, and the wild turns of fate.