An Overview of the Most Popular Gambling Books
If you are both a gambler and a bookworm, you will be pleased to discover which the best gambling books out there are and what you can learn from them. We have dedicated this review to three main book categories – books on gambling, gambling addiction and sports betting. We will provide you with the five best titles in all three categories, and we hope you will enjoy reading each of them. So, let’s not waste any more time and start reviewing these fantastic books.
We have chosen the books about gambling, which we consider to be the most interesting, and eye-opening. You will find brief introduction about each of the mentioned books, consisting of the author, plot, and the message the book is trying to convey.
Gambling-Related Book Titles
The first category we will review in this post is gambling books. Numerous pages have been written on the topic over the years, and it was not easy to select only a few. But for the purpose of this blog post we carefully overviewed a great deal of the handbooks and storybooks out there and handpicked five. Here are the best books on gambling you can read:
Bringing Down the House
The first prize in our ranking of the best books about gambling is Bringing Down the House – a bestseller according to the New York Times. The author of this book is Ben Mezrich, and it was first published in the United States in 2003. It is a non-fiction book, following the story of Kevin Lewis, an MIT graduate, who was invited to join the MIT Blackjack team in 1993. This team was organised to play at tournaments on the Vegas Strip.
After a series of personality conflicts and card counting deterrent efforts, the team ended up being incarcerated. The names of the characters in the book have been changed to protect the privacy of the real players. The book has a sequel called Busting Vegas and a film adaptation called 21. The movie 21 has a high rating and is beloved by many.
The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself
Our second choice, The Biggest Bluff, is another New York Times bestseller, written by Maria Konnikova in 2020. Maria is a psychologist and a television producer. The story, which she describes in the book, is actually her own. After working with the best poker trainer, she went from a complete amateur in poker to a pro champion. The relationship between psychology and poker has been emphasised deeply in this book.
“The tale of how Konnikova followed a story about poker players and wound up becoming a story herself will have you riveted, first as you learn about her big winnings, and then as she conveys the lessons she learned both about human nature and herself.”-The Washington Post
Her whole experience was an experiment she carried out to learn more about herself and how powerful psychology can actually be. She has written all the invaluable lessons she received throughout her journey in this book, and we strongly recommend it to all poker players and gambling fans.
The Greatest Gambling Story Ever Told
The Greatest Gambling Story Ever Told is another new title, published in 2020 by Mark Paul. The story takes place in the 1980s, long before the rise of the best online casinos. The book is a personal narrative about a filly who broke the male-dominated world of horseracing along with a trio of gamblers. Together, they embark on a fascinating journey worth reading about. The trailer of the book can be seen here:
In the process of placing a longshot bet, they manage to cross members of a Mexican drug cartel and begin searching for ways to claim their rightful prize without getting killed. In the midst of their race across the Mexican border, they face their enemies and are later arrested by the Border Patrol. The full story is rather enthralling and is worth checking out.
Blood Aces
Blood Aces is a 2014 non-fiction book by the author Doug J. Swanson. The book follows the colourful world of the notorious mobsters who run the underground gambling world of Las Vegas. One of them stands out, and that is Benny Binion – the mob boss, casino owner and creator of the World Series of Poker. It is a breathtaking sage of murder, money and what stays in the shadows in the gambling capital of Nevada.
Every Hand Revealed
The last book in our ranking is the fascinating 2008 masterpiece written by Gus Hansen – Every Hand Revealed. In this book, you will find an analysis of more than 300 hands he played during the Aussie Millions. The world-famous poker pro Gus Hanses reveals his winning secrets and the logical method behind his madness, for which he is often referred to as “the Madman”.
Hansen is the only player to win three World Poker Tour tournaments. He also holds several major international titles and has become a millionaire from poker play. He reveals how to raise your position with garbage holdings and how to call large bets with seemingly unplayable hands. It is a must-read for all poker players who strive to go pro.
Popular Gambling Addiction Books
The next set of titles we have prepared is concerned with the symptoms and treatment techniques of gambling addiction. We have carefully selected five titles, which we believe are worthy of your time and will help change your life and gambling patterns. Here are the best gambling addiction books according to our search:
Change Your Gambling, Change Your Life
The first book we recommend to our readers is Change Your Gambling, Change Your Life, written by Howard Shaffer in 2012. The author is a PhD and an expert on compulsive gambling. His extensive research on the topic has led to the birth of this masterpiece, published by Harvard University. In his work, Dr Shaffer explains the complicated relationship between excess gambling and other areas of one’s life.
He also provides a series of self-tests to help evaluate the degree of the problem. He then analyses the psychological context of those behaviours. Other essential parts of the book feature explanations on why human beings experience difficulty to control their urge to gamble and how that can change. It is, overall, a fascinating piece of work.
Born to Lose: Memoirs of a Compulsive Gambler
Born to lose is a 2005 memoir written by Bill Lee. Bill grew up in a culture where it was common for gamblers to lose their children over a bet. He went from losing his beloved card collection to forfeiting everything he owned at blackjack tables in the Las Vegas Strip. His heartfelt confession shows what it is like to struggle with addiction from the inside and how to overcome it.
Losing Your Shirt
Losing Your Shirt is a fantastic book, which explains the mechanics of addiction and how expensive compulsive gambling actually is. It was written in 2010 by Mary Heineman and has quickly become a favourite for many people struggling with addiction. The book reflects on the topics of underage gambling, female compulsive gamblers, and the new era of gambling websites.
Behind the 8-Ball: A Recovery Guide for the Families of Gamblers
Behind the 8-Ball is a book written by Linda Berman in 2012 as a recovery guide for the families of all troubled gamblers out there. In this book, you will find the steps needed towards reclaiming the financial stability, mental health, and emotional freedom of your loved ones. It is mainly dedicated to the families of problem gamblers and features key tips on how to encourage someone to realise the severity of the situation he/she is in and take control.
All Bets Are Off: Losers, Liars, and Recovery from Gambling
All Bets are Off is a fantastic book written by Arnie Wexler – the person who battled 40+ years with addiction and finally became a nationally recognised expert on the topic. In this narrative, he is telling his story of growing up in the streets of Brooklyn and starting his gambling journey rather early in life – at the age of 14. His terrifying story shows what it’s like to chase the big win and lose it all in the process.
Books on Sports Betting
The last category we will discuss in this blog post, are the books on sports gambling, else known as sports betting. This is a rather popular activity around the world and there have been numerous books written on the topic over the years. We have chosen the top 5 sports betting books to share with our readers and here they are:
The Logic of Sports Betting
The Logic of Sports Betting is a 2019 book, written by Ed Miller and Matthew Davidow. This book explains how sportsbooks make their lines, which types of bets are the best and how one can beat the house. There is also a dash of humour throughout this book, making it even more readable and enjoyable. One of the writers, Ed MIller, is a best-selling author of books on the topics of poker and gambling, and we can only expect the best from him in terms of gambling-related literature.
Sharp Sports Betting
The second title we suggest is Sharp Sports Betting, written in 2001 by Stanford Wong. This book explains the logic and math behind sports bets, such as parlays, teasers and props. It teaches the reader how to implement the easiest strategies correctly in order to make a fortune from betting. It is intended for beginners in this field and might come across as rather dull if you are a pro at sports betting.
Sports Betting for Dummies
The “For Dummies” series of books is a fantastic first step towards becoming a pro in a certain field. Their books are often masterpieces, and Sports Betting for Dummies makes no exception. It was written in 2020 by Swain Scheps and has quickly turned itself into a reader favourite. This book is appropriate for both beginners and more advanced players since it covers the basics and delves into more nuanced topics.
The Everything Guide to Sports Betting
The Everything Guide to Sports Betting is a fantastic book written by Josh Appelbaum in 2019. It teaches the reader different techniques to bet safely and responsibly whilst making substantial profits. There are countless tips, tricks and tactics, which you will be exposed to when reading this book. After you are done with it, you will be able to successfully place different types of bets, allowing you to beat the house at its own game.
Sports Betting for Winners
This 2019 creation from Rob Miech provides a behind-the-curtain revelation of a world of mob-ruled games and money-lined wagers. Some of the most prominent names in the history of sports betting will be mentioned in this book, and their long journeys shall be revealed. This book also features interviews with legendary masters of betting, which will reveal their greatest tricks. Sports Betting for Winners is worth giving a thorough read, for sure.
FAQ
In this last section of our post on the best books about gambling out there, we will take the time to answer a few of the most commonly asked questions on the topic. If you have missed out on something important throughout this post, now is the best chance to catch up.
