Jimmy the Greek: The Man Who Helped Make Betting Mainstream

Dimetrios Georgios Synodinos, better known as Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder, was a pioneering figure in American sports broadcasting and gambling. Born on September 9, 1918, in Steubenville, Ohio, Snyder became a household name in the 1970s and ’80s as the charismatic oddsmaker on CBS’s The NFL Today. His blend of betting savvy and showmanship helped legitimize sports gambling as part of mainstream entertainment, and helped paved the way for online sports betting at sites like 22Bet.

Snyder’s life was marked by tragedy early on: at age 10, his mother and aunt were murdered by a distraught uncle. He later credited his decision to stay at his father’s grocery store that day with saving his life, a moment that shaped his fascination with risk and fate.

He began betting as a teenager and made headlines in 1948 by wagering $10,000 on Harry Truman to win the presidential election at 17–1 odds. Snyder claimed he knew Truman would win because “American women didn’t trust men with mustaches”, a reference to Dewey’s signature look.

In 1976, Snyder joined CBS’s The NFL Today, appearing alongside Brent Musburger and Irv Cross. He didn’t just predict winners, he discussed point spreads, injury impacts, and betting angles, bringing the language of Las Vegas into living rooms across America.

His segments were groundbreaking, blending analysis with entertainment and helping to normalize sports betting long before it was widely accepted.

In 1988, Snyder was fired from CBS after making racially insensitive remarks in an interview, suggesting that slavery-era breeding practices contributed to Black athletic superiority. The comments sparked outrage and abruptly ended his broadcasting career.

Snyder died of heart failure in Las Vegas on April 21, 1996, and was buried in his hometown of Steubenville. Though his career ended in controversy, his impact on sports media is undeniable:

• He helped popularize betting as part of sports culture.
• He was one of the first to blend odds-making with televised sports analysis.
• His flamboyant personality made him a pop culture figure in the late 20th century.

Jimmy the Greek’s legacy is complex, equal parts trailblazer and cautionary tale. But for anyone who’s ever checked a spread before kickoff or watched a pregame show with betting insights, his fingerprints are all over the field.