Two men from Hoover with very different pasts on the same dangerous road, one who lived inside a major illegal bookmaking operation and another who beat gambling addiction decades ago, are putting their names and their stories behind a new non-profit aimed at a singular message: Odds cannot be beaten, but lives can be rebuilt.

One of the driving forces behind the dark side of betting is illegal underground operations and addiction.

This was highlighted back in February when 10 men in Birmingham pleaded guilty as a part of an operation to bring down a bookmaking organization known as “Red44”, which was estimated to have accepted over $2 billion in wagers during its existence.

One of the men involved who entered a guilty plea is now using his experience in the world of sports gambling to lead a recovery effort for sports gambling addiction.

Nathan Burdette — who was one of the 10 defendants who agreed to pay excise tax restitution totaling $19,777,382.61 to the IRS — along with Will Kadish — who has his own story of addiction from decades prior — launched The Parlay Project in Hoover in order to “raise awareness about sports gambling addiction and sharing stories of hope from men who have faced the battle and come out the other side.”

Kadish had self reported and made full restitution on his sports gambling addiction over 25 years ago, and in 2019, his record was sealed by a New York judge who had determined him to be “a person of high moral character.”

In 2024 though, his records and history were revealed by a politician seeking to destroy his reputation.

Instead of retreating, he found there was much less of a stigma around the topic as others shared their stories, which led to him joining Burdette to fund The Parlay Project.

“I’d like to try to catch the guys before they make mistakes, but also remind the ones that have, that it isn’t over. You can rebuild. Something beautiful can come from a low moment,” Kadish said.

Burdette’s experience on the bookmaking side of things makes him a unique addition to an organization such as this, being able to share real world experience from both the bettor and the odds making side.

Along with Kadish, the two men are determined to get a specific message out: Vegas cannot be beaten. Each man has their own individual and distinctive experience to affirm that fact, and now they are trying to get that message out.

“The Parlay Project shares the real stories of men like Kadish and Burdette who have faced sports gambling addiction and rebuilt their lives. By putting faces and voices to recovery, the organization aims to show men currently struggling that they’re not alone and that there is a path forward.”