They say practice makes perfect, but what if you could learn the secrets of the craft from the greats? The top casino books in the world tell the stories and the strategies of some of the biggest winners in casino history. But which of them should you read? Our experts have their say.
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What are casino books?
Throughout the history of the world, gambling has featured extensively in many pivotal stories: from fortunes won and lost, to disputes settled over a game dice, gambling is as old as the human being’s fascination with luck, superstition, and the potential of changing one’s life through a single card, a single roll of the dice, or a single bet on roulette online. Casino books essentially tell players the stories of their writers, and how they have managed to beat the odds and master the game. Their lessons are both entertaining and illuminating, and reading them could get you one step closer to achieving that all-important win at your favorite casino game.
The Five Top Casino Books for 2024
Are you ready to discover the secrets legendary gamblers unraveled and how these have helped them turn the house edge to their advantage? Here are five of the best casino books (or gambling books, as some people refer to them) you need to get your hands on.
Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich
Published in 2002 by Free Press, Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions is a 272-page book based on a mind-blowing series of true events that saw a Blackjack Team win around $10 million. Still considered to be one of the most influential gambling books of all time, 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.
A Man for All Markets by Edward O. Thorp
Edward O. Thorp’s A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street. How I Beat the Dealer and the Market is considered to be one of the best casino books in the world, particularly as it looks at a variety of casino games. The book is based on Thorp’s real-life story, which saw him amassing well over $800 million from gambling in casinos, trading on the stock exchange, and betting on a multitude of sports and events – all by using mathematical formulas of his own devising.
The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikova
A recent addition (2020) to the world’s canon of best casino books is this 368-page poker book by psychologist Maria Konnikova. Published by Fourth Estate, The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win is a tome that goes deep into the mindset of the gambler by looking at how poker players act, react, and play. And, of course, Konnikova knows what she’s talking about because apart from being a psychologist and author, she is also one of the most respected women in poker, earning an estimate $300,000+ per month by utilizing her own strategies.
Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke
A masterpiece of casino book-writing, Annie Duke’s Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts is a cornerstone in the art of sports betting. In this 288-page book published by Portfolio, the author looks at all one can do behaviorally and strategically to give themselves the best possible chance of winning even when they don’t have all the information or when the information is imperfect. Since its publication in 2018, Thinking in Bets has been used as a blueprint for many gamblers and traders, cementing its status as a classic in the genre.
Fortune’s Formula by William Poundstone
Author William Poundstone published this 386-page book through Non Basic Stock Lime publishers in 2006. Nevertheless, his inspiration lay in a strategy that first made its way into the collective consciousness in 1956. Known as the ‘Kelly Criterion’, or as most people refer to it these days, the ‘Fortune’s Formula’, the strategy was devised by Claude Shannon and John L. Kelly Jr., two Bell Labs scientists who wanted to get rich quick and managed it by testing out as many theories as possible. The Fortune’s Formula has become so big that among its most dedicated followers one can even find the American investor and business tycoon, Warren Buffet, whose net worth is reported to be of over $100 billion.
Worth your time!
While casino games are indeed a game of luck, understanding the possibilities can give you a great edge over your opponents and even the house. Interesting, educational, and all-around great reads, these top casino books are well worth investing in.
