David Milch has a way of creating indelible characters and putting them in situations so real you don't even question them. He was one of the driving forces behind "NYPD Blue." He created "Deadwood."

Even though the writer/producer's last series, "John from Cincinnati," was a misfire that was quickly canceled, it still felt somehow tangible despite the fact that ir revolved around a drifter character who might have been God.

Milch has done it again with "Luck," his new HBO series set inside the world of horse racing and gambling. It's what he's best at - creating a gritty reality populated by offbeat characters.

Whether that's a good thing is up for debate, however. It's one thing to believe in this world and these characters. It's quite another to want to spend nine hourlong episodes in this unpleasant place with these unpleasant people.

In Sunday's premiere (10 and 11 p.m., HBO), we meet Ace Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman), a mob-connected gambler who just got out of prison after a three-year stint. He's cooked up a plot that involves his bodyguard, Gus (Dennis Farina), but it's exactly clear to viewers.

Over at the track, there's drama involving horse trainers (Nick Nolte and John Ortiz), a veterinarian (Jill Hennessy) and various jockey (Gary Stevens, Kerry Condon and Tony Payne). And there are four thoroughly sleazy gamblers (Ritchie Coster, Kevin Dunn, Jason Gedrick and Ian Hart) who are in over their heads.

Unless you bet a lot on the horses, chances are you're going to be over your head watching "Luck." Milch prides himself on dropping viewers into the middle of this world without going out of his way to explain anything.

Watching it is sort of like swimming through mud.

There are some great performances in this show. And there are moments that feel so real they'll leave you gasping in surprise and horror.

But unless you're really interested in spending nine hours immersed in sleaze, "Luck" is not the show for you.