Just as football evolved with the introduction of the forward pass and basketball with the development of the jump shot, so too was handicapping forever changed by the use of speed figures--and it all started with Andrew Beyer's Picking Winners. This edition features a new foreword in which the author discusses the changes that have swept the sport since the book's original publication. Picking Winners remains a classic in the field of thoroughbred racing.

Learn how to bet on sports safely, smartly, and responsibly--and profit big--with this easy-to-use guide, perfect for beginners! Betting money on sports can be great fun and is a sure way to turn any sports game into an exciting must-watch event. However, it can be dangerous to the uninitiated--new gamblers can risk too much, bet randomly, or even lose it all. The Everything Guide to Sports Betting won't let that happen. Filled with tips, tricks, and tactics, this handy guide shows you how to place bets strategically. You'll learn all of the different types of bets you can make, how to spot a potentially profitable bet, and when to walk away. Covering all of the major sports leagues, The Everything Guide to Sports Betting will introduce you to the sports betting world and show you how to beat the casinos at their own games. In no time, you'll be a gambling pro--and cash in on some major wins!

Provides a historical perspective for understanding the exponential growth of casinos in the United States since 1990, by telling the story of Atlantic City, New Jersey since the 1970s. This work uses oral history to focus on the human stories of the region in addition to the broader story of economic and social impacts.

Having survived the games at the Starside Hotel, Kaiji is invited to join another game for a chance at even more cash! But while the previous game was physically challenging, this game, E-Card, is socially twisted. At its core it is a card game similar to rock-paper-scissors, but like the cards played - slave, citizen, emperor - the power balance is not in the favor of the challenger.

Amarillo Slim Preston has won $300,000 from Willie Neslon playing dominoes and $2 million from Larry Flynt playing poker. He has shuffled, dealt, and bluffed with some of twentieth-century's most famous figures. He beat Minnesota Fats at pool with a broom, Bobby Riggs at table tennis with a skillet, and Evel Knievel at golf with a carpenter's hammer. Amarillo Slim has gambled with 'em all, and left most of them wishing they hadn't.

The memoirs of a living American icon, Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People is the story of life as a Texas road gambler and the discovery of the Wild West. It's also the story of how Slim won the World Series of Poker at Binion's Horseshoe, became a worldwide celebrity, and brought poker from smoky backrooms to mainstream America. Just let him tell it:

"If there's anything I'll argue about, I'll either bet on it or shut up. And since it's not very becoming for a cowboy to be arguing, I've made a few wagers in my day. But in my humble opinion, I'm no ordinary hustler. You see, neighbor, I never go looking for a sucker. I look for a champion and make a sucker out of him ..."

"I'm fixing to tell you a few things that I've been keeping to myself for a lot of years. If you're not careful, you just might learn how to get rich without ever having a job."

Against a background of extraordinary growth in the popularity of betting and gaming across many countries of the world, there has never been a greater need for a study into gambling's most important factor - its economics.
This collection of original contributions drawn from such leading experts as David Peel, Stephen Creigh-Tyte, Raymond Sauer and Donald Siegel covers such interesting themes as:
*betting on the horses
*over-under betting in football games
*national lotteries and lottery fatigue
*demand for gambling
*economic impact of casino gambling
This timely and comprehensive book covers all the bases of the economics of gambling and is a valuable and important contribution to the ongoing and growing debates. The Economics of Gambling will be of use to academics and students of applied, industrial and mathematical economics as well as of being vital reading for those involved and interested in the gambling industry.

'The Age of Chance is a wonderful book, scholarly and at the same time compulsive reading' - Heather Worth, University of Auckland

In this highly readable work that engages topics in American cultural, social and business history, Ann Fabian details of gambling in industrializing America. She investigates the relationship between gambling and other ways of making profit, such as speculation and land investment in the nineteenth century, and explores the moral and cultural implications of this relationship.

The sports gambling book you can bet on Sports betting combines America's national pastime (sports) with its national passion (gambling). In the U.S., more than a third of the population bets on at least one sporting event every year. With the recent lifting of the federal ban on sports gambling, states are pushing legislation to take advantage of the new potential source of revenue. The best sports betting books are data driven, statistically honest, and offer ways to take action. Sports Betting For Dummies will cover the basics, as well as delving into more nuanced topics. You'll find all the need-to-know information on types of bets, statistics, handicapping fundamentals, and more. Betting on football, basketball, baseball, and other sports Betting on special events, such as the Superbowl or the Olympics Money management Betting on the internet With handy tips, tricks, and tools, Sports Betting For Dummies shows you how to place the right bet at the right time--to get the right payoff.

Whether you're an American Mah Jongg newbie or an intermediate player looking to gain an edge over your opponents, American Mah Jongg for Everyone is the perfect book to help you start practicing your game! Experienced international Mah Jongg instructors Gregg Swain and Toby Salk walk you through the basics of American Mah Jongg--introducing readers to the tiles, rituals, history, rules and winning strategies of the game. Using the humor, warmth and professional tips they share with their own students, this narrative-style instruction book offers an accessible way to learn this popular game. Topics include: Recognizing Mah Jongg tiles in different types of sets Building the walls and dealing the tiles Organizing your tiles and planning your play Understanding table rules and etiquette Winning strategies for various types of hands National Mah Jongg tournament director Gladys Grad contributes a foreword that explains why so many people love the game. Grad also has written a chapter that outlines the rules of Siamese Mah Jongg, a fun two-person game she created that you can't find in any other Mah Jongg book! This book comes with everything you need to get started playing, including: A timeless sample Mah Jongg scoring card A paper set to cut out and use while learning Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions Over 80 color illustrations Helpful practice exercises and quizzes that reinforce the lessons Access to a website that provides up to date information about the game A glossary of terms that every Mah Jongg player needs to know From the many different types of tiles and how to recognize them, personal stories about the game and historical trivia, American Mah Jongg for Everyone has something for anyone interested in this fascinating game.

*William Hill Sports Book of the Year award winning author*

Monsieur X is a dazzling tale of glamour, riches, violence and ultimately tragedy.

Patrice des Moutis was a handsome, charming and well-educated Frenchman with an aristocratic family, a respectable insurance business, and a warm welcome in the smartest Parisian salons. He was also a compulsive gambler and illegal bookie.

Between the late 1950s and the early 1970s, Des Moutis made a daring attempt to beat the French state-run betting system. His success so alarmed the authorities that they repeatedly changed the rules of betting in an effort to stop him. And so a battle of wills began, all played out on the front pages of the daily newspapers as the general public willed Des Moutis on to ever greater triumphs. He remained one step ahead of the law until finally the government criminalised his activities, driving him into the arms of the underworld. Eventually the net began to close, high-profile characters found themselves the target of the state's investigation, and people began turning up dead.

This single volume gives you comprehensive information on Asia-Pacific gaming! Casino Industry in Asia Pacific: Development, Operation, and Impact is a one-of-a-kind comprehensive review of the gaming industry in various countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This valuable resource thoroughly details the history, the operational issues, and the impact of casino gaming in Australia, Korea, Macao, and Southeast Asiaand the Pachinko phenomenon in Japan. International authorities discuss crucial issues that involve policy makers and casino developers, allowing industry players a global perspective as they consider various important viewpoints in their long-range planning. Casino Industry in Asia Pacific is organized into three sections: Development, Operation, and Impact. Chapters in the Development section provide a thorough history of gaming for Australia, Japan, Korea, Macao, and Southeast Asia. Laws and regulations are also reviewed for each location. In the Operation section, each chapter analyzes an important casino operational issue, including regulations, licensing and due diligence, internal control and auditing, and rolling commissions. The last section reviews the economic and social impacts for various regions. Chinese culture and gaming are also examined in detail to illustrate the intertwined relationship between gaming and people's daily life. Extensive bibliographies, helpful tables, and fascinating photographs are also included. Casino Industry in Asia Pacific discusses: casino history and gaming legislation in Australia, Korea, and Macao Japan's form of gamblingPachinko gaming in Southeast Asia suggestions for Asian gaming jurisdictions casino licensing investigations accounting, internal controls, and casino auditing the use of non-negotiable chips the societal and economic impacts of gaming in Australia the impacts of casinos in Korea gaming and Chinese culture Casino Industry in Asia Pacific: Development, Operation, and Impact is an essential resource for graduate students, advanced undergraduate students, educators, researchers, gaming policymakers and lobbyists, concerned civic organization leaders and members, casino developers and executives, hotel professionals, travel and tourism professionals, and anyone interested in the gaming industry.

This single volume gives you comprehensive information on Asia-Pacific gaming! Casino Industry in Asia Pacific: Development, Operation, and Impact is a one-of-a-kind comprehensive review of the gaming industry in various countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This valuable resource thoroughly details the history, the operational issues, and the impact of casino gaming in Australia, Korea, Macao, and Southeast Asiaand the Pachinko phenomenon in Japan. International authorities discuss crucial issues that involve policy makers and casino developers, allowing industry players a global perspective as they consider various important viewpoints in their long-range planning. Casino Industry in Asia Pacific is organized into three sections: Development, Operation, and Impact. Chapters in the Development section provide a thorough history of gaming for Australia, Japan, Korea, Macao, and Southeast Asia. Laws and regulations are also reviewed for each location. In the Operation section, each chapter analyzes an important casino operational issue, including regulations, licensing and due diligence, internal control and auditing, and rolling commissions. The last section reviews the economic and social impacts for various regions. Chinese culture and gaming are also examined in detail to illustrate the intertwined relationship between gaming and people's daily life. Extensive bibliographies, helpful tables, and fascinating photographs are also included. Casino Industry in Asia Pacific discusses: casino history and gaming legislation in Australia, Korea, and Macao Japan's form of gamblingPachinko gaming in Southeast Asia suggestions for Asian gaming jurisdictions casino licensing investigations accounting, internal controls, and casino auditing the use of non-negotiable chips the societal and economic impacts of gaming in Australia the impacts of casinos in Korea gaming and Chinese culture Casino Industry in Asia Pacific: Development, Operation, and Impact is an essential resource for graduate students, advanced undergraduate students, educators, researchers, gaming policymakers and lobbyists, concerned civic organization leaders and members, casino developers and executives, hotel professionals, travel and tourism professionals, and anyone interested in the gaming industry.

Gamblers have been trying to figure out how to game the system since our ancestors first made wagers over dice fashioned from knucklebones: in revolutionary Paris, the 'martingale' strategy was rumoured to lead to foolproof success at roulette ; today, professional gamblers are using cutting-edge techniques to tilt the odds in their favour. Science is giving us the competitive edge over opponents, casinos and bookmakers. But is there such a thing as a perfect bet? The Perfect Bet looks beyond probability and statistics to examine how wagers have inspired a plethora of new disciplines - spanning chaos theory, machine learning and game theory - which are not just revolutionising gambling, but changing our fundamental notions about chance, randomness and luck. Explaining why poker is gaming's last bastion of human superiority over AI, how methods originally developed for the US nuclear programme are helping pundits predict sports results and why a new breed of algorithms are losing banks millions, The Perfect Bet has the inside track on any wager you'd care to place.

Betting on Horse Racing For Dummies is packed with information that teaches you the ins and outs of the racetrack. You'll learn how to improve your odds, avoid common betting mistakes, and just plain have fun at the races. This is a spectator's easy-to-understand guide, so you'll have no trouble identifying the racing breeds with their strengths and weaknesses, sizing up the jockey, understanding the importance and role of a trainer, placing bets, managing money, and beyond. Can't make it to the track? No worries! You'll get the scoop on online betting with off track betting sites and apps. This update covers the latest changes in the betting world and in the racing world, so you'll know just what you're wagering. Learn about the different types of horse racing Discover and identify the best racing breeds Know your jockeys and trainers Make smart wagers and manage your funds For beginning betters, Betting on Horse Racing For Dummies is your ticket to well informed wagers and a winning edge. Already know the ropes? You'll love the market trends and insider tips you'll find inside.

'Kit Fielding's debut is a triumph. A story told with brutal honesty, underpinned by humour, love, hope and the inestimable power of friendship.' RUTH HOGAN, author of The Keeper of Lost Things In every pub in every town unspoken stories lie beneath the surface. Each week, six women meet at The Bluebell Inn. They form an unlikely and occasionally triumphant ladies darts team. They banter and jibe, they laugh. But their hidden stories of love and loss are what, in the end, will bind them. There is Mary, full of it but cradling her dark secret; Lena - young and bold, she has made her choice; the cat woman who must return to the place of her birth before it's too late. There's Maggie, still laying out the place for her husband; and Pegs, the dark-eyed girl from the travellers' site bringing her strangeness and first love. And Katy: unappreciated. Open to an offer. They know little of each other's lives. But here they gather and weave a delicate and sustaining connection that maybe they can rely on as the crossroads on their individual paths threaten to overwhelm. With humanity and insight, Kit Fielding reveals the great love that lies at the heart of female friendship. Raw, funny and devastating, all of life can be found at the Bluebell.

Learn and play the fascinating game of Mahjong with this comprehensive kit. Play American Mah Jongg! Kit contains a complete deck of 152 full-color, durable Mahjong playing cards, along with the best-selling book A Beginner's Guide to American Mah Jongg by Elaine Sandberg. The included full-color paperback book includes simple, easy-to-follow instructions and clear diagrams to walk the reader through each step of the game, including how to select a hand, how to play and how to develop winning strategies. This kit is ideal for beginners and experienced players alike, and can be enjoyed both at home and for travel. This Mahjong kit contains: 96 page, full-color book Simple instructions and clear diagrams 152 Mahjong cards (1.75 x 3.25 inches)

Over the last forty years, Cousin Sal has made bets with doctors, lawyers, teachers, agents, bookies, writers, comedians, radio DJs, tv producers, baseball players, front office executives, bandleaders, movie stars, publicists, weed lab owners, hedge fund operators, and even professional wrestlers. From his early days growing up in Brooklyn and Long Island flipping baseball cards to now hosting podcasts and TV shows and managing several offshore accounts we don't talk about, Cousin Sal has truly become the average American sports fan's go to source for gambling tips. So here's how not to do it . . . With hilarious tales of love and loss, winning and (a lot) of losing, crazy family and fatherhood, and a life saga that inspired the Phil Collins' song, "Against All Odds," Cousin Sal has now written THE Vegas super-system, MIT-algorithmic, sharp-approved book for how to gamble like a pro -- or at least not how not to go broke and lose your kids to Child Protective Services.

Almost everyone is familiar with Monte Carlo's association with gambling, and its famous Casino. Many may also have come across the Monte Carlo fallacy, so-called after the Casino's roulette wheel ball fell on black 26th times in a row, costing players, who believed that the law of averages made such streaks impossible, millions of dollars. However, the Casino also lends its name to a tool of statistical forecasting, the Monte Carlo simulation, used to model the probability of uncertain outcomes that cannot be easily predicted from mathematical equations. This book provides a detailed account for how aspiring sports bettors can use a Monte Carlo simulation to improve the quality, and hopefully profitability, of their betting, and in doing so unravels the mystery of probability and variance that lies at the heart of all gambling.

Betfair is the world's leading online betting exchange. Launched in 2000, its annual revenues reached GBP145m in 2006. In the last year, Betfair has more than doubled its number of registered users. Since the first edition of the book was published, the total number of Betfair websites has risen to 18, and an Australian exchange has launched. The services Betfair offer have also expanded, including a telephone betting operation and new games including poker, blackjack and baccarat. This is the definitive insider's guide to playing - and winning - on Betfair. Written by Betfair insiders it gives you the full picture of how Betfair works; it explains the terms and jargon, helps you get started on the site, introduces every type of play - including poker and the Betfair Casino - and offers tips and insider know-how that both newcomers seasoned Betfair punters can use to maximise returns.

'An electrifying account of gambling addiction ... compelling' The Times 'Searingly honest ... should be in the hands of anyone who has eyed a bet' Daily Mail 'A remarkable piece of work' The Cricketer 'Compulsive' The i 'An in-depth testimony' Daily Telegraph 'An extraordinary story ... vital stuff' Adrian Chiles, BBC Radio 5 Live 'A no-holds-barred journey through gambling addiction and into the hope of recovery' Paul Merson 'Patrick's story will stop you in your tracks' Sam Billings, England cricketer The unputdownable story of a life shattered by a secret gambling addiction - and an uplifting tale of recovery. With a foreword by Marcus Trescothick. For more than 12 years, Patrick Foster lived a double life. Turning 31, a popular and sociable young teacher and former professional cricketer, he had a lovely girlfriend and a supportive family. But he was hiding a secret and debilitating gambling addiction from even those closest to him. Huge bets had led to huge debts, thousands of lies, and consequences for his mental health that pushed him to the edge of the platform at Slough station, where he was moments from taking his own life in March 2018. That month Patrick had turned a GBP30 bet into GBP28,000, then lost GBP50,000 on a single horse, Might Bite, in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, watching the race in a silent classroom as his students undertook a mock exam in front of him. In his desperation, he had taken out every possible loan, and borrowed money from family, friends and even the parents of children he taught. Although his life was unravelling around him, he could not stop. You might think that this is just one man's story. But problem gambling affects one in 200 people in the UK alone. Hundreds lose their lives annually as a result. The industry is worth more than GBP14 billion. Might Bite is a shocking, cautionary tale of just how easy it is to fall victim to the insidious lure of 'winning big'. And of how recovery is possible from the depths of addiction, no matter how inescapable it seems. 'As a society, we are only just getting to grips with gambling addiction. Patrick Foster is a trailblazer. His work will help many.' Marcus Trescothick