The Unofficial Guide to Casino Gambling

by Basil Nestor

The casino games seem simple, but every year, millions of people lose billions of dollars at casinos and other gaming establishments. Why? Because they lack information, rather than luck. Beyond Las Vegas and Atlantic City, this book discusses riverboat and dockside gambling, as well as the boom in Indian Reservation gambling destinations and bingo parlors. In addition to the most popular card and dice games, readers discover the latest gambling craze...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028629175
• ISBN13: 9780028629179
• Release Date: December 1998
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Length: 321 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.2" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

An Easy, Interesting, Valuable Read

I went through about 20 books at the mega book store and found this one. Although there are many different games, I wanted the fundamentals on SLOTS, VIDEO POKER, and CRAPS.This book examines far more games than what I wanted.The writing is easy to read, interesting, and helpful. My wife and I have visited casinos a few times. We went to Biloxi, MS last week to see The Eagles in concert (fabulous!) and went to some of the casinos. I got this book before going. My wife is really only interested in slots.The times we gambled before, we were completely ignorant. THAT is how the casinos make so much money! This time, we walked in with an entirely different understanding and attitude.Based on the slot machine fundamentals we learned, we played at 3 different casinos for about 6 hours. Each play was with $40-$60, at one machine playing together :). That is a little low, I'd prefer $100 bankroll. We played quarter slots only, one at a time. Although with $100+, I'd play max coins. Our purpose was totally entertainment, have fun together, and not be rushed.Because of the book, we knew how to evaluate and understand the different machines, and where to look for the looser machines. That is part of the fun.We left up $12, had quite a few drinks, did some people watching, and had a great time. Our favorite casinos in Biloxi were the Grand Casinos in both Biloxi and Gulfport, about 10 miles apart. Each has a HUGE non-smoking slot area. How nice!

Insider Information

As a layman, that is non-professional and occasional gambler, (after all, I live a stone's throw from Las Vegas!)my curiosity was piqued by the fact that some people seem to have some sort of psychic insight into gaming. How did they do it? Could I do it myself? I asked a woman, a "high-roller," how she always seemed to cash in on the jackpots. "Oh," she said, " you just go to the new machines." Wow! But how do you know which ones are new? "You just know." I'm sorry, I'm too pragmatic for such an airy answer.However, I did find what I was looking for in the "Unofficial Guide to Casino Gambling."I'm still not a millionaire, but I'll tell you I have a lot more fun knowing some of the insider information than I ever did just playing blindly and not knowing what I was really doing wrong.Read it. You'll love it.

Super Pointers! Great Philosophy! Have Fun!

Read this book if you are on a tight budget (like me). All casino games are covered, but my great challenge is video poker. My bankroll is only $100 these days. After reading, and chuckling, through the whole book, especially some of the margin notes, I decided to make my gambling sessions more methodical. (1) I learned to walk away early if I am ahead from when I started. I now take profits suitable to my investment and to my mood that day. You, too, will learn how to set your "investment goals". (2) The more hands I can play with my measly $100 bankroll, the more chances I have to win a Royal (it has happened!), so I learned to go for optimum play, not dollars. That has become my real goal. This book sets you on that course. (3) My "reward" when I lose (I do that, too!)is how much of my little bankroll I am able to hold on to during any 3 hour session. (4) I learned to really enjoy my casino visits and get better at my game at the same time. Players of other casino games will, too. They will be entertained by the whole book, and learn to play their favorite games better and with a better perspective. They may also be blessed with more money to play with. That helps to win more dollars, but the real goal is to have more fun doing it. Thanks for a great book!

Easy tor read... very informative... Enjoy!

I originally bought a copy of "The Unofficial Guide to Casino Gambling" on impulse, at a book store, while researching a totally different topic. (I'm one those people who wander around bookstores for hours and always end up finding something interesting to buy.) The border notes hooked me into the purchase. I had to read more. The main text was even better... easy to read, often gently humorous, and very informative about odds, strategy, and the world of casinos. I am now ordering another copy to donate as a raffle prize. The more serious gambler can improve his odds, and will approach his next casino experience with a fresh perspective. The non-gambler will just have fun reading it, and gain some knowledge about what casinos are all about. Either one will come away having learned something. You write extemely well, Mr. Nestor!

Great introduction to the world of casino gambling

I bought this book prior to my first trip to Las Vegas. I had never gambled before and this book was a great help in getting me to actually play some games, rather than hang out at the slot machines. He gives very thorough, easy-to-understand explanations of all of the casino games. I learned a lot about blackjack, enough to feel confident playing at a table by myself.