A Gambler’s Guide to Dying

See that feeling that you might have won? Why wouldn’t you want that to last for as long as possible. That’s best bit!

What are the odds of living an extraordinary life?

This is the story of one boy’s granddad who won a fortune betting on the 1966 World Cup and, when diagnosed with cancer, gambled it all on living to see the year 2000. An intergenerational tale of what we live for and what we leave behind.

This edition of A Gambler’s Guide to Dying was published to coincide with the run at the Traverse Festival in August 2025.

Gary McNair is a multi-award-winning writer and performer from Glasgow who aims to challenge and entertain in equal measure. Previous shows include: Square Go, Jekyll and Hyde, Dear Billy, Donald Robertson Is Not a Stand Up Comedian, A Gambler’s Guide To Dying, Letters To Morrissey, and Locker Room Talk. He has three times won the Scotsman Fringe First Award and has toured the world with his plays. His work has been translated into multiple languages including Italian, Arabic and Japanese.