When it comes to learning about casino gambling, watching videos and reading blog posts and articles online are the go-to choices for many casino players. Indeed, the online casino content created by renowned experts and top gambling platforms has a treasure trove of information to offer to their audience.
While the online gambling content is great, some casino enthusiasts may want to conjoin it with gambling books to get more detailed insights or to just read some interesting anecdotes. As such, here are the top casino gambling books that every casino player must read.
The Gambler – Fyodor Dostoevsky
Written by Russian novelist and journalist Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, The Gambler is one of the most popular casino gambling books of all time. The book goes on to tell the story of Alexei Ivanovich, who works as a tutor for a wealthy Russian family. The head of the Russian household, The General, is addicted to gambling and spends most of his time bothering his ill aunt (the Grandmother) to pay off his loans.
Meanwhile, Alexei is madly in love with the General’s niece Polina. One day, Polina asks Alexei to visit a local casino and place wagers for her. While the young lad initially wins at the Roulette table, his future bets get succumbed to heavy losses in the upcoming days. The Gambler reflects Fyodor’s own compulsive gambling behaviour at Roulette tables. Also, the novella shows the importance of making informed bets when you play Roulette online.
Bringing Down the House – Ben Mezrich
Ben Mezrich is an American writer who has written several thought-provoking books such as The Accidental Billionaires and Busting Vegas. But he is best known for authoring Bringing Down the House. The book revolves around the story of six MIT graduates who made fortunes by counting cards at the Vegas City Blackjack tables.
While the main focus of the book is on MIT students making millions by deceiving casinos, it offers an insight into what card counting is and how it actually works. Also, it includes information on strategies used by players to cheat modern-day land-based gambling venues. While it may not be illegal to do card counting, let us tell you that brick-and-mortar casinos may suspend your gameplay if you’re found counting cards. Speaking about online casinos, it isn’t possible to do card counting in Blackjack online as these games are based on the RNG software.
Gambling 102 – Michael Shackleford
“There are several books that explain to you how to play casino games – that’s Gambling 101. Gambling 102 takes you to the next level by offering insights into how to enjoy casino gaming effectively and efficiently.” This is how the author and American Mathematician Michael Shackleford describes his Gambling 102 book.
True to its name, Gambling 102 includes tips and strategies for all popular casino games. So, whether you prefer playing Baccarat at a live casino online or want to try your hands at online slots at the top mobile casino, the book has got you covered. Also, all the playing strategies and methods in Gambling 102 are backed by Shackleford’s extensive research and his own experience, meaning there’s no room left to doubt them.
The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King – Michael Craig
Dating back to the early 2000s, this book tells the story of investor Daniel Beal and his high-stake Poker games with some of the world’s best Poker players. Famously known as “The Corporation”, the professional players’ group included the likes of Chip Reese, Phil Ivey, Todd Brunson and David Grey, amongst others.
What’s interesting about these Poker matches is that they lasted for three years, with players wagering $10,000 to $20,000 in each gameplay round. In the end, Beal vows to stay away from Poker when he loses over $16 million to Phil Ivey in just two days. With a gripping narrative, The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King accurately tells the story of one of the longest games in Poker history.
Other popular casino gambling books listed
Besides these, there are several other good books to read on casino games and gambling in general. We’ve listed some of them below:
- Positively Fifth Street by James McManus
- The Frugal Gambler by Jean Scott
- The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky
- The World’s Greatest Blackjack Book by Lance Humble
- Roll the Bones by David G. Schwartz
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
- All Bets Are Off by Arnie Wexler
- A Man for All Markets by Edward E. Thorpe