Casinos Books

If you haven't read the first two, stop. The author does not provide enough backstory for you to care about any of these characters to start with this book.

This series is in the larger "trade" format, prices start at $10.49. Personally, it's not worth it. I won't be continuing the series at that price. If it ever goes to the mass-market size and price I might consider it.

I love the way the author paired her characters. It makes for clean, fun, light storytelling. The romance is thoughtful, the sexual innuendo and lovemaking is gloriously detailed. Looking forward to the next!

It was cute..not much else to say..a little campy, but some vampire lore, love and a special baby on the way :)

I looooove Brittany and Corbin. He's the only vampire out of the whole series to be very alluring... to have that mysterious aura about him. He's quiet, but smart. Polite and very opinionated. And his world is turned upside down when Brittany enters it with a big surprise.

The story between these two revolve around pre-parenthood, and their growth into responsible adults. Corbin is already an adult, of course, but he's taking it up a notch by becoming a father. You get to see his attitude change, and it's all for the good.

The downside to this book? Donatelli. Like Seamus in book 2, Donatelli has a big change of heart. He was ruthless, rude, and yucky, but in this book he loses some of it which was a major letdown. Ms. McCarthy needs to stand by her characters and give them the gradual change, not the big leap that leaves you confused and wondering what the heck is going on.

Getting pregnant after a one night stand with a vampire was not part of Brittany Baldizzi's plan. Brittany hasn't seen the soon-to-be father, Corbin Jean Michel Atelier, since then but she is determined to find him and let him know that he is to be a father. Corbin is shocked by the news and wants to do the right thing... but will it destroy them both in the process?

Erin McCarthy's books are always perfect for when you are in the mood for some fun, lighthearted reading. BLED DRY is no exception, and I think it is actually the funniest one in the series. I love the way Ms. McCarthy addressed the whole issue of a vampire dealing with the idea of childbirth. Some of these moments between Brittany and Corbin were absolutely hysterical!

Most of the ongoing threads between the characters seen throughout HIGH STAKES and BIT THE JACKPOT are resolved, although there are still some tantalizing tidbits left to ponder. BLED DRY can easily be read as a stand alone, however, as all of the necessary back history is provided for the reader. I would suggest that the reading of these books be spaced out a bit and not read back to back as Erin McCarthy has a definite style that would be muted a bit if the books are read consecutively.

BLED DRY is an enjoyable and amusing tale that finally ends the drama between Corbin and Brittany. The issues between Ringo and Kelsey only get more complicated, and I look forward to seeing more of a resolution between them. Erin McCarthy puts her own stamp on vampire politics with BLED DRY and the Vegas Vampires series.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

I wanted to learn blackjack so I wouldn't throw all my money away on the slots like I usually do. So one day I haphazardly peruse the gaming section of my local bookstore and leave with the most unique view on the game I have ever seen.

The author is very thorough in describing several different scenarios of tables and gives great information about how to decide when to use the techniques that go along with them. Most people are looking for a sure fire way to win and the truth is that there really aren't any. But, armed with the information presented in this book you will probably end up winning more times than losing and when you do lose (as you invariably do) the author also mentally prepares you for this contingent and helps you in walking away still feeling like a winner.

This would be a 5 star review except that he is pretty heavy handed in trying to sell you to his moderately expensive blackjack home study course. This is the only complaint I have though and the good far outweighs the bad.

Jerry L. Patterson, with over a quarter century of teaching blackjack, has in one single book provided the most comprenhensive analysis of the game that is currently available. As oppopsed the the majority of blackjack books, which promote mechanical systems, he provides a complete understanding and a thorough analysis of every facet of the game. By following Patterson's teachings any blackjack player will benefit and if after reading the book one cares to further their knowledge there are courses that the author provides.
Jerry Patterson is one very few widely respected experts in the blackjack education business and has an extremely large group of loyal followers, who over the years have prospered from his knowledge and teachings.

Brief: If you are going to play blackjack then the price of this paperback book isn't bad for understanding some of the interesting details about this game.

Rule #1: Players who play a system lose systematically.

Rule #2: Casinos have made much money on those that think that they can out-smart the casinos.

I have played on BJ teams, roulette teams (wheel and dealer bias), race and sports books. The race books have been my ONLY long-term money-maker (I would qualify this though in the right forum). I feel that I have played every system ever invented/constructed/fabricated known to humankind. I've read every book, every critique, and paid enormously for every "SYSTEM" sold out there. Since I am independently wealthy, I could afford to buy such things and try them out as much as I want. I did, and my advise to you: you will not beat the casinos. I will put all my money on that. Unfortunately, many live on fantasy alone, much to their own undoing.

I've met Jerry Patterson in the late 80's while exploring a few systems. Generally, he is a person of integrity. I understand that his research into systems brings him into contact with many that make his life a frustrating soap opera. Such is the battle-ground, I suppose. I respect Jerry Patterson for his extensive work in this field.

My advise to you is simple: some people make money doing that one thing that is claimed to make you money, and other people sell information about making this same money. Well, why sell this information if you are happily making such money? If Jerry Patterson can't make a good-enough living on his talents in this field (and he is, at the very least, one of the best players), then why do you think you can?

If YOU found a great system for beating craps, blackjack, the slots, horses, or NFL playoffs, THEN would you publish how others can similarialy benefit, OR, --if it is such a great system--, just go about making your good money?

Publishing books and systems on how to beat the casino is a way to make money. It is not very good money, but good enough with decent sales. This, of course, wouldn't approach what may be implied in the money that could be made if following this "system" in the field. Right? So, again, if you have a winning formula, why go hawk it to the public, if not to make sure, but small, money on it from publishing rather than seldom successful practicing of it.

Think about this until it makes sense.

With the price of this book, I DO believe it is well worth the read if you plan on doing BJ as entertainment only. If your looking for a way to make a lot of money, then, sorry, don't let me embellish your imaginary world.

My wife just loves Vegas but I got tired of losing money on every trip we made there. A few years ago we were waiting for a plane to leave and I picked up the first edition of Jerry's book in the airport to read on the way home. I just knew there had to be a better way. Jerry not only changed my thoughts about blackjack but about gambling as a whole.

I've read almost every blackjack book I could get my hands on and most are very technical and filled with statistics that work well for those who enjoy playing theoretical games against a computer but this is the only book that shows you how to beat the real game in real live casinos. When I heard the new edition was coming out, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I wasn't disappointed. I now am able to evaluate any game of blackjack before I sit down in a way that no other author has ever described. This book paid for itself many times over on my first trip back to the casinos.

Thanks Jerry! Las Vegas is much more fun now that I come home a Winner!!

This book is useful for anyone who wants to win at blackjack. As an experienced player, I can attest that the info provided herein is comprehensive, complete, accurate and useful -- and if followed correctly will permit you to beat the casino at blackjack.

However, I subtracted 2* because the author refused to provide his current system for winning, instead teasing the reader with a not so thinly disguised sales pitch. Anyone who writes a how-to book but leaves out the how-to instructions should be pilloried.

In sum, I think both experienced and inexperienced players can benefit from his advice, but will be disappointed that the greedy author has chosen not to share his current strategy.

Jeff German writes about the 1998 death (murder?) of casino owner Ted Binion and the ensuing murder trial. The victim was no innocent - Ted Binion was a heroin addict, and the prosecutor charged his ex-stripper girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, and *her* boyfriend, Rick Tabish, with the crime. What makes this more interesting than many books on the "true crime" shelf is that the reader is introduced to the rough and tumble world of a colorful casino mogul and his chaotic personal life. Even though Ted Binion was not the most sympathetic of victims, he did not deserve to die, and the author describes his death and the ensuing trial.

The defendants argued that Binion accidentally killed himself with a drug overdose, while the prosecutor's theory of the crime was complex, circumstantial, and yet convincing - at least the way Jeff German tells the story.

The two defendants were found guilty largely on the strength of forensic evidence from the autopsy. What the author does not report, because it occurred in 2004 after the book was published, is that an appeals court ordered a retrial, and in the second trial the defendants were found not guilty of murder because the jury placed little weight on the forensic evidence. It's hard to believe that justice was done.

This book is based on a stark real story, so you can't say that what happened to Sandy is fair or not because they never found anything against her except what the people said she said, and maybe two or three coincidences that happened the day of the murder. Nevertheless, everything written in the book you will read it at least twice and that makes the book boring, albeit you'll understand the plot perfectly is not the way to write a book. JG wrote too many technical terms and that made the story slow and heavy and I really don't agree that this was the murder of the century in Vegas.

what a story hard to believe people can be so ruthless all for the mighty dollar.i would recommand this book highly it really gets into the truth.the strange thing about reading the book is i went to junior high and high school with sandy murphy and it is sad to see how her life really turned out.

If you can stay awake while reading this boring tome of Ted Binion's demise, you will learn that the writer did little more than write what the prosecutors spoonfed to him. Also, the writer did not attend the trial, which is painfully obvious. He did no independent research. Instead, read Cathy Scott's colorful, in-depth account of the trial and events surrounding it in "Death in the Desert: The Ted Binion Homicide Case." There, you will get the true story of exactly what went down.

Where other 'true crime' books fall down is the old adage about "the devil is in the details." This is definitely NOT the case with 'Murder In Sin City' which really goes the distance in bringing the reader close to the case and it's many people, twists, and turns. Ted Binion was the mega-wealthy heir and executive of the 'Binion's Horshoe' casino fortune. He was also a colorful and eccentric heroin addict with a taste for strippers and fast-lane criminal friends. These shortcomings were all contributing causes of his untimely demise at the hands of his girlfriend Sandy Murphy and her new lover Rick Tabish. The book covers many aspects of their relationship and scheming plans to murder Binion so they could share in his wealth. Most of the other fascinating details of the case were simply not covered by programs like 'Dateline', '20/20', 'Court T.V.' etc which is what makes this book so thorough and interesting. Buried treasure, wild characters, sex, murder and betrayal --- this is one story that like it's unfortunate victim had it all. Interesting developments have happened since the book's release in late 2001. Namely, Tabish and Murphy's murder convictions were overturned due to a technicality involving a separate torture case for which Tabish is still serving time. Murphy is now free and both are awaiting a retrial set for sometime in October of '04. Additionally, the 'Binion's Horseshoe' casino a Las Vegas landmark for 50+ years, was recently closed down for violations involving owed back pay. I can only hope that author Jeff German will take up the pen again when the aftermath of the new trial has settled.

This is one of the best nonfiction historical books I have ever read. Jeff Benedict is able to convey to the reader the most important details regarding the birth of Foxwoods in a manner which holds the reader's attention as if you were reading a murder mystery. The role of the federal government in creating this multibillion dollar industry is clearly spelled out and incredibly well documented. Kudos to Jeff Benedict for his outstanding research and thorough investigation of the Pequots.

Yeah ..this is unfortunate that book sells so well with such a writing!! And the topic.. and so-called investigation>>> Please.. the author would not even filed his interviews! This is no investigation to me... this is populism.. that is all!!!!

I am not American , and not native american, so I guess I am neutral!
Do NOT Give this author any more money.. rather read real academic research about native casinos: such AS "INDIAN gAMING : WHO WINS" edited by Mullis and Kamper or the Eadington book about Indian Gaming and the Law!!

I hope that as readers of this book people might venture into doing research on of their own before taking the word of a man that was trying to get "funded" by a White Casino Owner in an area close enough to be affected by Fox Wood, and was trying to run for Governor?

I read this book on the suggestion of a friend. It definately is a pager turner and I couldn't put it down until I finished.

As an enrolled member of a 'casino' tribe I see why such a book would be written about a tribe rising to power through gaming. Afterall, Indians are not entitled to this type of wealth. We're supposed to reside on our little enclaves of land and be alcoholics and live close to nature and I ask why can't Indians have wealth? We didn't make the laws and neither did the Pequots. The Pequots just used the laws to their advantage and made it big. Why shouldn't the Pequots be entitled to justices of the land?

However, I can see the otherside of the fence as well. At what costs did this wealth and power come to a tribe that is suspicious of being a true Indian tribe? I'm not naive. It was all done for good purposes in the beginning, but once instant wealth came their way, all sense of what makes a tribe a tribe was lost to the bigger financial picture. The first thing that is cut when an audit happens is to cut the museum budget. The one thing that can disproove the skepticism of them being a real tribe is cut so that members can keep their pockets lined. No sense of community is in the hearts of this tribe because they'd be looking out for the welfare of the future generations.

But when reading this book, if you choose to, is to attempt to put all biases aside and see what this book (and the others written on the same topic) show...that this book does an incredible job of describing the legal and political forces in opposition to each other that led to the creation, and then to the interpretation and application of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. No other book has done a better job of illustrating the distinction between federal Indian law on the books and federal Indian law in practice than this one. It's a fascinating blueprint for how Indian tribes can leverage law, policy, and politics--if they are shrewd--to achieve an almost unimagineable degree of contemporary political and material power. The brilliance of the Pequots is that they figured out how to use white law and institutions to their particular advantage, and this book describes just how they did it. It is fascinating!! But also to Indian tribes reading this book, let this be a lesson in what NOT to do when instant wealth comes one's way.

Evidently the Pequots didn't speak with this guy. I can see why. The book is really tendentious. I'd suggest instead "Hitting The Jackpot" by a former Washington Post reporter. I heard about it in the local newspaper and it's very good. Much more informed and balanced and powerful. Whichever book you like, get educated on this!

In "Blackjack Autumn," well-known horse race handicapper, Barry Meadows, recounts his adventures on a tour of Nevada casinos playing Blackjack. This book is a very enjoyable "read," and the author reveals himself as an excellent writer with a great sense of humour. I'd recommend it to anyone... especially someone heading for a casino, but by no means limited to "gambler types."
K. Steele

Blackjack Autumn covered some interesting stories of the ups and downs of blackjack, I play alot of blackjack and know the highs and lows. Barry kind of over kills the cliches though. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy blackjack stories but may not appeal to the casual reader.

This guy is pretty funny. As other's have mentioned, he really overdoes the metaphors, and it gets tiresome. "As (blank) as" is written probably a hundred times in this book. Or, in the writer's parlance, "the author uses this same joke form about as often as guppies ovulate." Or, "the author pulls out this joke form faster than than Pee Wee Herman would go down boxing Mike Tyson." When he's not using those lines though, he can be LOL funny. And of course, for any blackjack player, stories like his are pretty much irresistable. If you have ever fantasized about making money as a card counter, buy it.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. However, the author's attempts at making witty jokes throughout the novel really grow old. There's a couple on every page, and they're not good. Even the stories he had to write weren't exactly gripping.

I much prefer the dated "Ken Uston on Blackjack" if you want to read about high-stakes, professional Blackjack play.

I loved this book. It isn't the one to read if you want to learn to count cards at blackjack, but really gives a wonderful description of what casinos are like. Barry Meadows isn't Paul Theroux, but he is a lot funnier and sounds like a much nicer guy. Anyone who loves visiting Nevada will love this one. If you haven't visited Nevada, you will want to after you read this book.

This was a fun story! The characters are funny, witty, and strong. I loved it!

I loved this one. A fast read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. With JFK , Andersen continues the Showgirl series that she started with Skintight. For me, the second in the series outshines the original- not that I didn't like Skintight too!

At first, showgirl with a heart of gold Carly can't stand her uptight neighbor Wolfgang Jones. Opposites in many ways they are like fire and water. But chemistry can be a fickle thing sometimes and they quickly find themselves making out in her condo foyer with all her babies(her beloved pets)running for cover! (Carly, the heroine, has a soft spot for pets, and they have their time in the story just like many of the side characters!)

I loved both Wolf and Carly- he's the kind of romance book hero I adore. Stoic, strong, passionate, sexy, helpless with his attraction to his woman, with a sense of humor that pops up at just the right time.

Carly is just as likable. She comes off as a ditz, especially around Wolf, but she is of course way more intelligent then he guesses.

There is, of course, a psycho stalker to add the outside conflict, and though I'm getting tired of that old schtick, it didn't bother me so much because the nutball wasn't so prominent.

The scene where Carly finally gets confronted by her stalker is more of a tool to reveal more of Carly and Wolf's true selves- and more about their relationship- then it is about the stalkage. To me she got away fairly easy BUT, as I said before, the scene really wasn't about the psycho- it was all about Carly and Wolf.

All through the book we find again the characters first revealed in Skintight, which was fun naturally, and Wolf's nephew Nicklaus gets added to the mix, who also helped to reveal to the reader what all was going on in the heroes head. At 16, the nephew wasn't as annoying as some kids can be in a romance book, but I did feel he was bit too unbelievable in his actions. I felt like Wolf got off a little too easily considering the kids past ... but, considering the fast pace of the book, it worked.

In the end, Carly and Wolf find out that, on the inside, they are not as unalike as they first thought and the story of discovery ends up to be quite entertaining!

This book was a quick read for me. It was okay, nothing memorable about the story.

Sequel to SKINTIGHT.

Even though she graduated with a teaching degree, Las Vegas showgirl Carly Jacobsen loves her dancing job. She's got the talent and body for dancing and it allows her to thumb her nose at her money-grubbing, ladder-climbing mother. In her spare time Carly indulges her love of animals by rescuing cats and dogs and using them as therapy pets for children stricken with cancer.

Carly immediately strikes sparks with her uptight new neighbor, Wolfgang Jones. Wolfgang also happens to be the number two security honcho at the resort hotel/casino where Carly works. Wolfgang's army/embassy worker dad married his German mom and has lived all over the world.

Wolfgang's got a "plan" for a white picket fence life and a Stepford wife. His plan doesn't involve anybody even remotely like Carly. Too bad for him. When his nephew, Niklaus, comes to live with him, Wolfgang's plan is further sidetracked.

Good, solid story. Carly was an incredible, positive woman - strong, smart, funny. She carried the story. The stalker subplot was dumb and conveyed no real sense of threat. And Niklaus was typical teen angst, just stellar.

Susan Andersen takes us back to the world of Las Vegas showgirls, where Treena McCall and Jax Gallagher last met and fell in love. This story is about Treena's best friend, co-worker, and neighbor, Carly Jacobsen. Carly is tall, blonde, beautiful, and built, and she's also big-hearted and fun-loving. Like the other characters, Carly has wounds from her past and had felt herself a misfit until realizing she fit in right where she was, and made a family with similar people who also built their lives in Sin City. Carly doesn't expect to add her uptight neighbor, security expert Wolfgang Jones, to the group because they detest each other. Carly tends to live in the moment while Wolf doesn't do anything he hasn't planned as carefully as a chess move, including his sex life. That all changes one day when they accidentally land in each other's arms and all but go up in flames. Intense animosity becomes red hot lust, and they find themselves sucked inexorably into an all-consuming affair. At the same time, Wolf's nephew Niklaus lands on his doorstep after nearly 17 years of being dragged from place to place by his flighty mother. Wolf, who had always found it safest to be solitary, suddenly finds himself a parent with a lover and burgeoning friendships. Nik, prepared to hate everyone and keep his distance from his rigid uncle, instead finds himself with a group of friends and a girl, as well as developing love and respect for his uncle.

Though there was only one very long, very well-written sex scene, this book is nevertheless very hot as it details not only the lust but the budding of very important, very deep feelings that can sometimes go with it. It doesn't stop there, though. It also dealt lightly with a teenage romance from the boy's point of view, and showed how the warmth of the love of friends can create a surrogate family for people whose lives have been fractured in one way or another. Wolf is an especially endearing character as he opens up from his "solitary is safe" stance to becoming a good parent to Nik and tumbling head over heels for Carly.

The focus of this book is very different from Andersen's last, "Skintight," which detailed a lot of the work that goes into being a showgirl. This one was more about cracking open wounded hearts and the healing power of many kinds of love, from burning romance to the bond with man's best friend. Susan Andersen has always written excellent modern romance, and this book really shows her stuff. She brings us her familiar sense of humor while humanizing larger than life characters. These people have flaws and vulnerabilities, and are so real you can almost touch them. I can't wait to see where the imagination of Susan Andersen will take me next.

Casino Gambling the Smart Way is a must read for both veteran and new gamblers. If you are the sort that beleives in systems, or believes that 'red is due' after a long run of black, or if you are the sort that chases your loses, this book may cure you of that. If you know better, you might still enjoy the anecdotes, which are pretty fun to read. However, don't expect much concrete advice on how to play any casino games, or much in the way of analysis of any particular games.

I give it three stars: although the book reads like a disconnected set of articles for a gambling magazine, and perhaps that is where it came from, it is still worth checking out so you can avoid major losses at the casino.

I have not read a great deal of gambling literature, but I really enjoyed this book, which I borrowed from my local library before a 4 day trip to Vegas. As a rookie gambler, I am sure that I saved some money because of this book. I loved the practical knowledge such as not to gamble at the airport and some of the stories and advice that is given out in a friendly manner. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is planning a trip to the casino anytime soon.

I had never considered buying a book on gambling. I'm not a pro and have no intention of every being one. I go on vacation and gamble for fun. Right before a recent trip to Vegas, a friend at
work told me that I had to read this book before I went. I decided to give it a try. Boy, was she right. I found the book to be well written, humorous and most importantly informative for the non-gambler. I didn't have to know anything about gambling to understand Mr. Glazer's book. It was a good read. Not too many books are both funny and educational. This one is. I liked how each chapter was complete in itself. I went with a different mind set. Instead of taking money to lose, I took money to spend. Just changing my attitude seemed to relax me. I have always wanted to but been too intimated to try blackjack. After reading this book, I gave up my losing slots and gave it a try. Mr. Glazer's chart was there to back me up when I needed it. I would recommend everyone read this book before venturing into the casinos.

Hi,

I'm Andy Glazer, the author of Casino Gambling the Smart Way. You can read what I wrote in 1999 about this book elsewhere on the site.

It's two years later now, and I have a somewhat different perspective. Casino Gambing the Smart Way is a good but not great book. The good news is, I feel that way mostly because my standards have gone up. I'm quite sure it will be worth somewhere between 5-20,000 times the cover cost to most people. It's also pretty funny.

I'll be writing more books soon, a wave on poker first, actually, but this one is an excellent start into the right philosophy to take into the casino. There is also a mistake in the blackjack chart, about the proper way to play a hand of 12. The one page in the book I didn't get to proof and voila.

I'm more advanced in my craft now, but CGTSY will still be a good, easy and valuable read.

Soooo, you're ready to hit the casino and make your fortune, huh? Well, as this book describes in detail, the sucess or failure of your outing will be largely influenced by your mindset. You will not learn any unique trade secrets here. But, if you invest some time with this book, you will learn how to get the most out of your trips and, hopefully, avoid losing your shirt. I highly recommend this book. Good luck...

Not so fast. Using the methods in this book may keep you at the table longer, but as with every system in every craps book, these are eventual long term over all losers. This book will explain parts of game very well and may give the inexperienced player some new confidence, but for the rest of us, forget it.

I learned a lot about the technical aspects of craps from this game. For example he explains all about place bets and how sometimes two pace bet wins are more profitable than fuve wins - unbeleivable but true, he proves it. I also learned how to chart the table - using both mega charting and Super charting. He shows you the REAL pass line percentage on points AFTER the come out - it is a lot higher than you think! Other than place betting there's not too much systems-wise but this is a valuable book if you want to really know the game and gain confidence in your play.

A lot of good ideas in this inexpensive book, I especially liked the material on charting.

Anyone who is serious about playing craps should read this book. I would especially recommend this book to new players and anyone who has never played before but is considering playing craps. After reading this book, you will know more about craps than 90% of the players. Only 1% of long-term craps players are winners. This book will definitely help to put anyone in that 1% group.

If you want to "cut the crap" out of your craps this is the book to do it, "Now you can WIN at craps" the book says, and its true. It tells you what the really bad bets are (and why) like PASS AND COME BETS, the bets all the other gambling authors say to make - these are BAD BETS and he tells you exactly why! He tells you the BEST bets (and why) AND taught me how to chart the tables! PLus there is a real interesting chapter on eighteen ways to win but only 6 ways to lose! As I said before a lot of good info is packed into this book - if you want to read something different from the rest, study and apply what he says - and you will cut the crap out of your craps!

This is a good reference for non-counting BJ player.

This book helped me incredibly understand the odds and help beat the casino at their games. I recommend it.

Winning Casino Blackjack for the Non-Counter is a great strategy book for blackjack beginners. It gives comprehensive charts detailing which moves to make, but more importantly, explains the charts in understandable language.

I've tried other blackjack books, but they all just gave charts with no explanations. This one explains each move so you understand exactly why you make it, which makes it easier to remember at the casino!

This is the first blackjack book I ever used and it was a great starting point. Since then I've gone through a few more books and at my times at the casino, I made a killing! I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to start playing this game.

Nothing more than an advertisement for his expensive mail-order non-counter strategies. The strategy he claims to present in this book is misrepresented as a non-counting strategy, when in fact it is (he basically says estimate the number of high cards remaining by watching which cards have been played, which is the definition of counting). If you want the actual non-counter strategy, you have to shell out $50 for a mail-order packet. Stay away.

When I made my first trip to Las Vegas over 10 years ago, I was lucky enought to find this book in the bookstore, insightful enough to buy it and terrified enough of losing money to read it and put it into practice. Since that time I've play tens of thousands of hands of blackjack in casinos all over the Western Hemisphere. I've also bought and read lots of other books on Blackjack. This one is without question the best.

It gives good introductory information on how to play winning blackjack. It covers basic strategy, money management and other fundamentals in a clear, concise way. He explains the strategy in such a way that it's easy to understand and REMEMBER. And he leaves out a lot of the non-sense and self promotion garbage you get in a lot of other books.

Even though I have a rather large library of blackjack books now, I still find myself throwing this one into my bag to read as a refresher on the plane trip to Vegas.

It's not meant to be the be-all-end-all book on blackjack and it shouldn't be judged as if it were. There will come a point, if you get serious enough about the game, that you'll want a more advanced book. This is the best book I've found however to give you the "blocking and tackling" fundamentals of blackjack.

I am not going to claim anyone can make a living playing craps, but I will say that this book helped me to learn how to play craps. I won $987 starting with $100 in chips the first time I played craps after reading Conquering Casino Craps. I made another $175 the second time I played, so over two days I made $1162, and I only took $200 to the casino. This book is easy to read and understand, and the betting strategy is simple enough that you can remember it and it makes sense. I have had a couple of losing sessions also, but with his strategy for leaving a table I only lost around $18 each time this happened. This book gives a sound education on how the game works and gives you a strategy for taking advantage of a hot table and also for keeping losses to a minimum when a table turns cold. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has wanted to play craps but felt intimidated by the game. I was one of those people, but am now confident in my game play and love the game.

You can make absolute bank with this book and the new book "Get the Edge on Craps: How to control the dice" also found on this site. The book I just mentioned is how to control the dice so you can hold them on average 15-20 minutes every time you step up to the table. Sometimes you can hold them for 45 minutes. It shows you how to set, grip and throw the dice to get predetermined numbers all within 1-2 seconds so the casino does not observe you being a dice mechanic. There are people who do this and make a living at it, such as a person by the name of The mad professor who claims to be a dice mechanic earning 400,000 per year, on dicesetter.com. If you use "Get the Edge on Craps: How to control the dice" along with Conquering Casino Craps you will make about 50,000 per week. In Conquering Casino Craps it has a betting strategy that is devestating to the casinos as it has you betting only the casinos money stating off with 5 dollars with double odds and working your way up to putting down 1,000 on the line with 2,000 in odds all with the cainos money several points later. So it goes 5 with 2x odds, 10 with 2x odds, 25 with 2x odds, 50 with 2x odds, 100 with 2x odds, 100 with 2x odds, 200 with 2x odds, 400 with 2x odds, 600 with 2x odds, 1000 with 2x odds.
This may seem like a lot of points, but this can be done at a not crowded table within 10 minutes if you are on a streak, which you will be constantly with dice control as taught in the aforementioned book. Even with random "chickenfeeder" rollers, I have caught hot streaks of 10 minutes where I have made 14,000 using the above betting stategy. Can you imagine what I would make holding the dice for 20 or 40 minutes? These two books are how to break a dice table. You will have heat from the pit and careful scrutiny of your play, so dont take too long detting the dice. As the dice are being pushed over by the stickman, as a professional, be looking at them and in your mind see what you would have to do to set the dice for the proper set so by the time you have the dice, you just quickly set them in one fluid motion and shoot.
Good Luck. I am thinking about getting a dice team together and going to hit vegas.

If everyone in the casino played like the way it decribes in this book they would have to close the craps tables. I have tried the power system of betting the passline and in computer simulations I have walked away with hundreds of dollars and once even several thousand. I have come up with my own system to improve on this system if anyone is interested. I will email it to you for free. It involves also playing 'dont pass' as there are streaks where the dice are ice cold where you can also make bank.

I have yet to use the Power Betting Strategy that is explained in this book, but I look forward to trying it on my next trip. I found the author insightful, with a good deal of anecdotal information to go along with his strategy. If I could find a negative (for me), I felt that too many pages were dedicated to discussing cheating and the mechanics involved. However, his fascination with dice "skill shots" was offset by his firm opposition to cheaters at the dice table. Overall, an excellent read. I found the author's honesty and frankness refreshing, in comparison with those books hawking "guaranteed wins" over the casino.

This book gives sound advice on only playing the two lowest house percentage bets, pass line and come line, but does a poor job of explaining the don't pass and don't come. It assumes that everyone is a "right bettor". The advice on setting strict loss limits is very valuable to most players who lack discipline. You will learn to preserve your bankroll if you strictly follow the author's advice to walk away when the rules say so. It's not easy. My main criticism is that the suggested session money is way too low for the style of play suggested. It leaves too much freedom for undisciplined players. The power betting schedule is way too aggressive for most players. Once you get into the betting progression, taking double odds on 4-10's calls for way too much money at risk. This is reckless money management. You might break the bank once in a while, but you'll lose a huge bet on the inevitable 7-out at the end of that hot roll. There are smarter ways to manage even a very hot shoot. And there are better books on craps.