This book provides clear instruction on a variety of casino games and strategies. It also covers the psychology of gambling.

This is a nice looking book with plenty of colorful diagrams. The writing is geared toward the inexperienced player. Unfortunately too much of the advice is wrong. For example it advises raising in Caribbean Stud with Ace-King-Jack-9-5 or better instead of the correct breakeven hand.

American Mensa Guide to Casino Gambling

Walk away from every casino a winner! This book reveals how to beat the house using simple math and common sense. It is written to help those who have trouble with complicated equations but still want to master gambling strategy. It covers several different games in detail including blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Let it Ride, Three Card Poker and Pai Gow Poker. It also includes a chapter on the math behind video poker and a discussion of betting systems.

A great addition to the growing collection of casino books. It is a comprehensive resource that will be appreciated by any player.

The Biggest Game in Town by Al Alvarez

The Biggest Game in Town is a fascinating exploration of the bizarre world of high-stakes poker. Alvarez’s literary prowess combined with his keen observation of human dynamics makes this book one of the most engaging poker books ever written.

He explores a gritty Vegas of the 70’s and 80’s before shiny mega casinos emerged, and profiles brash, boorish players who live lives completely devoted to poker. These players often share a fragmented perspective on the rest of the world, much like protagonists in crime novels. He examines the idiosyncrasies of their personalities and strategies, and how they make or break a tournament.

The House Always Wins by Nicholas Pileggi

Pileggi delves into the world of mob-controlled casinos in Las Vegas during the 1970s and 1980s. His compelling narrative sheds light on the power struggles, betrayals, and violent confrontations that characterized the criminal underworld.

This nonfiction work is a gripping account of the era, and features larger-than-life characters like Frank Rosenthal and Tony Spilotro. It reveals the rise and fall of mob influence on gambling in Las Vegas, and it underscores the city’s lasting impact as a symbol of excess, glamour, and corruption.

The book is entertaining and enthralling, though it lacks the excitement of GoodFellas. The vignette-style storytelling that Scorsese used to great effect in those movies is used here to lesser effect.

Last Call by Tim Powers

The Cthulhu Mythos, Bugsy Siegel, and Arthurian legend collide with Las Vegas in this 1992 novel by Tim Powers. Powers is a titan in the genre of what might be called historical weird fiction, and this book is one of his best.

Featuring a deck of magic cards, divinatory tarot, and a vaguely Arthurian storyline, Last Call is a sly, twisty fantasy that feels tangibly real. The first in a loose trilogy that includes Expiration Date and Earthquake Weather, this book is an excellent example of Powers’s trademark mix of high stakes gambling, esoteric dialogue, and an unmistakably fantastic alternate reality.
Scarne’s Complete Guide to Gambling

The maths genius book that looks at how casino games are based on statistics and odds. These types of books tend to be the most useful for games like blackjack and roulette where understanding the probabilities can make you a better gambler.

The memoir guy that is trying to share his experiences with gambling as a profession. These types of books are often entertaining and can provide valuable insights into the social aspect of gambling. They might not be the most informative but they certainly help you understand what it is like to live a life with gambling as your career.

Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi

From the author of Wiseguy, the best-selling Mafia expose that inspired Martin Scorsese’s GoodFellas, comes this riveting true story of love, revenge and murder Mafia-style. It tells the tale of Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, a mob-linked casino kingpin who kept a stranglehold on Sin City’s brightly lit casinos skimming millions for Kansas City mobsters until his brains betrayed his brawn.

It also chronicles Rosenthal’s stormy marriage to Vegas showgirl Geri McGee and her numerous affairs. This is a book full of salacious gossip and outrageous bravado. The only downside is that sometimes the narrative gets a little confused with old interviews and FBI files making it hard to follow.