For those who like to improve their knowledge on gambling beyond the thousands of ‘how-to’ guides available out there, The Wall Street Journal has put together an interesting list on what author Joseph Mazur believes to be the best gambling books on the market.
The list incorporates The Compleat Gamester (Charles Cotton), Scarne’s Complete Guide to Gambling (John Scarne), Roll the Bones (David G. Schwartz), The Biggest Game in Town (Al Avarez) and Lay the Favorite (Beth Raymer).
The Compleat Gamester
This book, published in 1674 provides a fascinating look into gambling at a time when it was considered necessary to cheat your way to success. Written by the English poet, Charles Cotton, the book provides guidelines on how to play (and cheat at!) classic English games such as hazard, basset and others. The ‘olde’ English spelling adds to this book’s charm.
Scarne’s Complete Guide to Gambling
This is one of the most complete guides on gambling ever printed, incorporating the history, rules and winning strategies of most games today. Scarne’s was considered one of the highest authorities on gambling rules and was quite the magician with gaming cards.
Rolls the Bones
An interesting book which delves into the question of how gambling has affected our society since prehistoric days. The book is a treasure of interesting facts about the history of gambling, taking a look at some of the more colorful gambling characters of our past.
The Biggest Game in Town
An intriguing look at the life and styles of some of Vegas’ high roller poker players from behind the lens of poet and author, Al Alvarez’ camera. Some of the photographs captured of poker players are simply astonishing.
Lay the Favorite
A true memoir that takes readers into the world of sports gambling, where hustlers, rogues and agents rule. Mazur notes that this book is “honest, yet almost too-crazy-too-be-true”.
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