Horse racing in America dates back to the colonial era when street races were a common occurrence. The commercialization of horse racing produced a sport that would briefly surpass all others in popularity, with annual races such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes growing to rank among America's most celebrated sporting events. From the very onset, horse racing and gambling were intertwined. As the popularity of racing and betting grew, so, too, did the controversies and corruption. Yet, despite the best efforts of social reformers, bookmakers stubbornly plied their trade, adapting and evolving as horse racing gave way to team sports as the backbone of their business. In Sports Betting and Bookmaking: An American History, Arne K. Lang provides a sweeping overview of legal and illegal sports and race betting in the United States, from the first thoroughbred meet at Saratoga in 1863 through the modern day. The cultural war between bookmakers and their adversaries is a recurring theme, as bookmakers were often forced into the shadows during times of social reform, only to bloom anew when the time was ripe. While much of bookmaking's history takes place in New York, other locales such as Chicago, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City-not to mention Cyberspace-are also discussed in this volume. A comprehensive exploration of the evolution of bookmaking-including the legal developments and technological advancements that have taken place over the years-Sports Betting and Bookmaking is a fascinating read. This informative and engaging book will be of interest to anyone wanting to learn more about America's long history with gambling on horse racing and team sports.

This book develops the concept of "gamble-play media", describing how some gambling and gambling-like practices are increasingly mediated by digital technologies. Digital gambling brings gambling closer to the practices and features of videogames, as audio-visual simulations structure users' experiences. By studying digital gambling from media studies, videogame and cultural studies approaches, this book offers a new critical perspective on the issues raised by computer-mediated gambling, while expanding our perspective on what media and gambling are. In particular, it critically analyses terrestrial, mobile and online slot machines, online poker and stock trading apps through a selection of case studies.

During the early twentieth century, professional gamblers were such a scourge in the smoking rooms of trans-Atlantic passenger liners that White Star Line warned its passengers about them. In spring 1912 three professional gamblers travelled from the USA to England for the sole purpose of returning to America on the maiden voyage of Titanic. "Kid" Homer, "Harry" Rolmane and "Boy" Bradley (Harry Homer, Charles Romaine and George Brereton) were grifters with a long history of living on the wrong side of the law, who planned to utilize their skills at the card table to relieve fellow passengers of cash. One swiftly fell under suspicion of being a professional "card mechanic", and was excluded from some poker games, but other games continued apace. This new book, the result of years of research by George Behe, reveals the true identities of these gamblers, their individual backgrounds, the ruses they used, and their ultimate fates after tragedy struck, as well as providing an intriguing insight into a bygone age.

An authoritative introduction to the world of professional gaming and casino management, from the authorities on the subject, the faculty of the UNLV International Gaming Institute: Vincent H. Eade, Director David J. Christianson, Dean William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration

Contributing faculty members: Frank D. Borsenik Leslie E. Cummings Robert J. Martin John T. Bowen Bernhardt Fried Andrew Nazarechuk Pearl Brewer Zheng Gu John M. Stefanelli Anthony N. Cabot Jim Kilby

This is the book for anyone interested in pursuing or advancing a career in the gaming or casino industry, the ideal reference for hospitality students as well as professionals. Completely up-to-date and reflecting current academic and technological trends in the field, as well as the legislative developments permitting gambling casinos in almost every state, The Gaming Industry:

• Covers the historical background and regulatory aspects of gaming
• Explores all facets of casino operations—from food and beverages to cage operations, auditing, marketing, and reporting
• Examines the mathematics and utility analysis of gaming, including all newly introduced technologies and related practices for gaming and casino operations
• And much more...

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.

This book explores the rise and increased acceptance of gambling in America, particularly the growth of the game of poker, as a means for examining changes to the American Dream and the risk society. Poker both critiques and reinterprets the myth of the American Dream, putting greater emphasis on the importance of luck and risk management while deemphasizing the importance of honesty and hard work. Duncan discusses the history of gambling in America, changes to the rhetoric surrounding gambling, the depiction of poker in the Wild West as portrayed in film, its recent rise in popularity on television, its current place in post-modern America on the internet, and future implications.

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!

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.

This book begins with my day of sentencing. I had been practicing law in Henderson, North Carolina for ten years and on this day I am in court for armed bank robbery. I share what this day was like as well as prison life. While confined, I came to the realization that I was a compulsive gambler. I share my background of growing up in a small rural area in Eastern North Carolina and the details of how my gambling began and more specifically the card game of poker. Recounting and sharing many aspects of my life were painful but then there were other aspects that were a joy. Sharing my mental hospital experience and the sharing of the crime were difficult. But sharing where I am now and how blessed I have been were moments of joy. It is about this thirty-six year old lawyer who had been practicing law for ten years but because of unwise choices, flawed judgment, terrible foresight and bad habits, eventually ends up in prison. I end this book by attempting to show that in the face of adversities, one can still overcome and be successful, if he has the determination, perseverance and faith. The book in not intended to be a detailed autobiography but rather a life of gambling; especially, the card game of poker.

The extraordinary life of the best poker player who ever lived When Stuey 'The Kid' Ungar took his first World Series of Poker title, one journalist asked him what he would do with the money. His answer: 'Gamble it'. Stuey grew up among the hoodlums and wiseguys of New York's Lower East Side. A pint-sized high-school drop out who never worked a day in his life, never had a bank account or paid a penny in taxes, he lived to gamble and became the world's most feared card player. From the multi-million dollar fortune he won and lost, the addictions that consumed him, and one of the greatest phoenix-from-the-ashes comebacks of all time, this is the story of a Las Vegas legend.

Read this book--and we bet that the cash you save in just one trip to the casino will more than make up for its cost Simply put, this is the best guide to gambling ever written. It reveals the secrets of success known only to the most expert gamblers: how to bet smart, play the cards right, recognize when the odds are in your favor, and walk away a winner. You'll learn about beating the bank with odds and probability, "the house edge," money management, and the psychology of gambling. Here's all the info you need to play each game like a genius

A reprint of one of the classic volumes on racetrack efficiency, this book is the only one in its field that deals with the racetrack betting market in-depth, containing all the important historical papers on racetrack efficiency. As evidenced by the collection of articles, the understanding of racetrack betting is clearly drawn from, and has correspondingly returned something to, all the fields of psychology, economics, finance, statistics, mathematics and management science.

A reprint of one of the classic volumes on racetrack efficiency, this book is the only one in its field that deals with the racetrack betting market in-depth, containing all the important historical papers on racetrack efficiency. As evidenced by the collection of articles, the understanding of racetrack betting is clearly drawn from, and has correspondingly returned something to, all the fields of psychology, economics, finance, statistics, mathematics and management science.

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.

While the gambling industry is indisputably large and powerful, it has received little attention from political scientists. Utilizing a variety of perspectives and techniques, von Herrmann analyzes gambling's recent expansion, finding public attitudes have been shaped both by government policies and the industry's attempts to create a family-friendly image.

Von Herrmann examines the politics of state and federal gambling policy, particularly policies relating to casinos and state lotteries. She considers gambling policy from a variety of perspectives, including the politics of adoption, the state and federal governments' role in policy formation and implementation, and the broad economic and social impact questions related to gambling. The inclusion of several state case studies provides insight into the largely successful reshaping of Americans' image of gambling--from seedy, sinful, and corrupt behavior to a benign, pleasurable entertainment experience--which ultimately has led to widespread availability.

While many have asserted that gambling policy fits well within the political models of morality politics, von Herrmann challenges this notion. Noting that true consensus has not been achieved in the area of gambling policy, she shows how supporters' economic arguments and opponents' moral concerns have effectively bifurcated the current debates on gambling policy; gambling is now viewed by many in two distinct and separate bodies of thought. As she observes, the challenge for the future of gambling policy is to find ways to bridge the gap. Of particular interest to scholars, students, and other researchers involved with public policy, particularly that relating to gambling.

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.

For decades, casino gaming has been steadily increasing in popularity worldwide. Blackjack is among the most popular of the casino table games, one where astute choices of playing strategy can create an advantage for the player. RISK AND REWARD analyzes the game in depth, pinpointing not just its optimal strategies but also its financial performance, in terms of both expected cash flow and associated risk. The book begins by describing the strategies and their performance in a clear, straightforward style. The presentation is self-contained, non-mathematical, and accessible to readers at all levels of playing skill, from the novice to the blackjack expert. Careful attention is also given to simplified, but still nearly optimal strategies that are easier to use in a casino. Unlike other books in the literature the author then derives each aspect of the strategy mathematically, to justify its claim to optimality. The derivations mostly use algebra and calculus, although some require more advanced analysis detailed in supporting appendices. For easy comprehension, formulae are translated into tables and graphs through extensive computation. This book will appeal to everyone interested in blackjack: those with mathematical training intrigued by its application to this popular game as well as all players seeking to improve their performance.

This book explores the manifold actual, possible and probable interconnections between gambling and crime in the context of the increased availability of wagering activities across many regions of the world. It examines the impact of the proliferation and propinquity of land-based betting establishments on crime, the role of organised crime in the provision of both licit and illicit forms of gambling, as well as problem gambling, crime and the administration of criminal justice. It also assesses the links between gambling, sport and corruption and the dimensions of crime that takes place in and around internet gambling sites. A thought-provoking study, this will be of particular interest to scholars in the fields of sociology, criminology and social policy.

People have been gambling, in one form or another, for as long as history itself. Why? Money, entertainment, escape and a desire to win are all traditional explanations. Arguably, however, these are secondary considerations to a higher order purpose: a craving for control. Gambling offers a means of gaining authority over the unknown, granting us a sense of control over uncertainty. Almost always that sense is illusory - gambling, including betting and investing, is essentially random - yet for many it is nonetheless profoundly rewarding. This book attempts to explore the reasons why. Along the way, it examines: The science of probability and uncertainty Why gambling is often condemned The difference between expectation and utility The irrationality of human beings Evolutionary perspectives on gambling Luck and skill Market efficiency and the wisdom of crowds Why winners take all Cheating Why the process matters more than the outcome

This first comprehensive history of America's lottery obsession explores the spread of state lotteries and how players and policymakers alike got hooked on wishful dreams of an elusive jackpot. Every week, one in eight Americans place a bet on the dream of a life-changing lottery jackpot. Americans spend more on lottery tickets annually than on video streaming services, concert tickets, books, and movie tickets combined. The story of lotteries in the United States may seem straightforward: tickets are bought predominately by poor people driven by the wishful belief that they will overcome infinitesimal odds and secure lives of luxury. The reality is more complicated. For a Dollar and a Dream shows how, in an era of surging inequality and stagnant upward mobility, millions of Americans turned to the lottery as their only chance at achieving the American Dream. Gamblers were not the only ones who bet on betting. As voters revolted against higher taxes in the late twentieth century, states saw legalized gambling as a panacea, a way of generating a new source of revenue without cutting public services or raising taxes. Even as evidence emerged that lotteries only provided a small percentage of state revenue, and even as data mounted about their appeal to the poor, states kept passing them and kept adding new games, desperate for their longshot gamble to pay off. Alongside stories of lottery winners and losers, Jonathan Cohen shows how gamblers have used prayer to help them win a jackpot, how states tried to pay for schools with scratch-off tickets, and how lottery advertising has targeted lower income and nonwhite communities. For a Dollar and a Dream charts the untold history of the nation's lottery system, revealing how players and policymakers alike got hooked on hopes for a gambling windfall.