While it’s true that practice makes perfect, imagine if you could bypass that step by picking the brains of the masters instead. The world’s best casino books detail the lives and winning tactics of the casino industry’s most famous high rollers. But how do you decide which one to read first? Our gurus weigh in.
When do you use casino books?
Gambling has played a major role in countless stories throughout human history, from the making and breaking of fortunes to the resolution of disputes with the roll of a dice. It has been around for as long as people have been fascinated by chance, superstition, and the possibility of instantaneous change through the flip of a card, the toss of a dice, or a spin of an online roulette wheel. The authors of these books share their experiences at the tables with readers, detailing how they overcame incredible odds to become successful gamblers. Their advice is both funny and informative, and it could just help you win more money at your favorite casino game.
The Best Gambling-Related Books of 2023
Are you prepared to learn the strategies that have helped famous gamblers consistently beat the odds and the house? Here are five of the greatest books about casinos and gambling that you can’t afford to miss.
Ben Mezrich’s Bring Down the House
In 2002, Free Press published Bringing Down the House, a 272-page book based on the unbelievable real story of a Blackjack Team that won roughly $10 million. The team was comprised of six students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The author here uses facts and mathematical formulas to show how the team used their infamous’spotting’ technique to predict when the decks of cards could and should be counted, and how they used this information to achieve their legendary win; the book is still considered one of the most influential gambling books of all time.
Edward O. Thorp, a Man for All Markets.
The book “A Man for All Markets” by Edward O. Thorp. Because it covers so many different types of gambling, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market is widely regarded as one of the greatest books ever written on casinos. The book is based on Thorp’s life, in which he used mathematical formulae he developed to win at gambling, stock trading, and sports and event betting, building a fortune of more than $800 million in the process.
Maria Konnikova’s The Greatest Embarrassment
This poker book by psychologist Maria Konnikova is one of the finest in the world, and it was just published in 2020. It’s 368 pages long. The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win, published by Fourth Estate, delves deeply into the psyche of the gambler by analyzing the actions and decisions of professional poker players. And of course, Konnikova is speaking from experience; in addition to being a psychologist and author, she is also one of the most admired women in poker, making an estimated $300,000+ monthly using her own methods.
Annie Duke’s “Thinking in Bets”
The classic work on sports betting is Annie Duke’s Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts. In this 288-page Portfolio publication, the author examines how to maximize one’s chances of success even while lacking certain key pieces of knowledge or dealing with poor data. Although it was only published in 2018, Thinking in Bets has already become a classic in the field, serving as a guide for many gamblers and traders.
William Poundstone’s The Formula for Financial Success
This 2006 tome by William Poundstone was released by Non Basic Stock Lime and has 386 pages. However, he found motivation from a tactic that entered the public consciousness for the first time in 1956. Claude Shannon and John L. Kelly Jr., two physicists at Bell Labs, came up with the technique of testing as many ideas as possible in order to get rich soon, which is now commonly referred to as the “Kelly Criterion” or “Fortune’s Formula.” The Fortune’s Formula has gained such popularity that American investor and business magnate Warren Buffet, who is estimated to be worth over $100 billion, is among its most devoted adherents.
Well worth the effort!
Even though casino games rely heavily on chance, knowledge of the odds may offer you a significant advantage over other players and even the house. These best casino books are informative, entertaining, and enjoyable readings; you won’t regret purchasing one.