While many online casino players are happy to enjoy gaming on a casual basis, some like to take things a little more seriously by reading books on the subject. Reading about different games, strategies and the personal experiences of other players can be a great way of increasing your own knowledge and ability.
It can also be an enjoyable way of passing the time between gaming sessions, so here are five of the best gambling books to get started with.
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Beat the Dealer by Edward O. Thorp
Beat the Dealer: A Winning Strategy for the Game of Twenty-One was first published in 1964 and it sent shockwaves through the casino industry. That's because the author was a professor of mathematics who came up with a proven way of beating Blackjack games. He called it card counting, and he used the now-famous strategy to win a fortune from numerous casinos - getting banned by most of them in the process.
While you can't count cards online, reading this book will give you some great insights into the game of Blackjack. The knowledge you'll pick up could also be very helpful when you play at land-based venues.
Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner by Bob Dancer
Video poker is one of the few RNG games that allow players to improve their chances of winning by playing in a strategic manner. Bob Dancer is one of the world's best-known experts on the game and he's authored multiple books on how to beat it.
Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner is a perfect title to start with, and it has three parts. In Part I, Bob discusses the various types of video poker games that are available. Then, in Part II, he reveals his strategies for beating them. He then uses Part III to discuss the game Beyond the Machines, covering topics such as progressives, bankrolls, video poker tournaments, and more.
Mastering Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em by Jonathan Little
Jonathan Little is a professional poker player who has won more than $6.4 million by playing in tournaments. In this book, he reveals "strategies to consistently beat small stakes poker tournaments and cash games" and those strategies can be applied when playing online as well as in land-based poker rooms.
We like this book because, like our previous two recommendations, it was written by someone who walks the walk and doesn't just talk the talk. We also like the fact that it is aimed squarely at those of us who are interested in small-stakes tournaments and cash games. Of course, if you master the strategies contained in this book you're always free to progress to higher stakes as your skills and experiences allow.
Casino Gambling for Dummies by Kevin Blackwood and Swain Scheps
The "for Dummies" series of books from John Wiley & Sons is hugely popular, and the fact that a second edition of this title was published in 2022 shows just how mainstream casino gambling has become. Written by a professional blackjack player (Blackwood) and a professional sports bettor (Scheps), both of whom also love playing casino games, this book discusses how to play effectively at both online and land-based venues.
The book is divided into five parts, and these cover everything from Casino Gambling Basics and Conquering the Table Games, to Taking Casino Gambling to a Different Level. If you want one book that will give you some great tips and strategies on a variety of games, this is the one we'd recommend.
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
This recommendation is for those of you who would rather read a novel than a non-fiction how-to guide. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming tells how James Bond goes about bringing down Le Chiffre via a high-stakes game of Baccarat, and the author's own enthusiasm for the game really comes through. Of course, there's plenty more to this novel than the card game, but if you want some good old-fashioned escapism you can't go wrong.
Get Reading
There are many thousands of books about gambling in the world, but the five featured here will provide you with plenty of knowledge and entertainment to last you a few weeks at the very least. Pick whichever title appeals to you the most or work your way through all five, as you prefer.
Enjoy your reading!
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