Product Description

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 -- virtual casinos found on the Internet. Basil Nestor delivers to the reader the kind of insider information that casinos, other books, or experts can't or won't tell them:

• Thoroughly explains casino games, like blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, and more
• Analyze odds and guaranteed advantages of certain types of play
• Identifies ìsucker betsî and expose scam betting systems that lose gamblers money
• Clarifies casino security protocol and explicate state operations regulations
• Teaches prospective gamblers to implement methods that increase winning potential

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #600368 in Books
• Published on: 1998-12-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

From Library Journal
Nestor is an author and television producer whose credentials include several documentaries (e.g., Casinos in the Community) on casino gaming in Atlantic City and the Midwest. The "Unofficial Guide" series is designed to give readers basic, comprehensive information; this book follows the series' format, as Nestor incorporates decades of gambling knowledge to give the reader insight into probability, common gambling mistakes, and winning strategies. The book is thoughtfully subdivided into sections on machine games (slots and video poker), table games (blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, poker), and waiting games (keno and sports betting). There are several entertaining chapters about money management (e.g., the psychological pitfall of losing one's initial winnings), getting comps or credit, and generally enjoying the casino experience. This manual also contains charts, checklists, and unique features such as "Bright Ideas," "Watch Out," and money-saving tips. Luck aside, this casino companion takes an interesting approach and makes a worthy supplement to primers such as The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gambling Like a Pro (Alpha, 1999. 2d ed.).AMarty Soven, Woodside, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover
The inside scoop… for when you want more than the official line! You might think that winning at the casino is only about luck. But it's not. It's mostly about the odds. There are good bets, not-so-good bets, and bets that are for suckers only. That's how casinos make their money. If you want to beat the casinos at their own games, you need proven strategies based on the true odds. You need a behind-the-scenes look at how casinos work and how the games are played. You want the inside scoop. The Unofficial Guide™ to Casino Gambling is designed to give savvy players like you a foolproof appraisal of what works and what doesn't—the good bets and the bad ones—with unbiased recommendations that are not influenced by any company, product, or organization. This book, like every Unofficial Guide,™ is intensively inspected by the Unofficial Panel of Experts, a team of highly respected gaming industry professionals. They ensure that you are armed with the most up-to-date insider information on casino gambling and are told exactly what the Official establishment doesn't want you to know. Vital Information that other sources can't or won't reveal about true odds, good bets, and wagers you should never make. Insider Secrets on getting comps, perks, and special services at the casinos—even if you're not a high-roller. Money-Saving Techniques that protect your bankroll and give you more chances to win. Time-Saving Tips that get you into hot games faster and out of cold games sooner. The Latest Trends in game design, rule variations, and casino comp policies. Handy Checklists and Charts to help you better understand the strategies and odds that can make you a winner.

Customer Reviews

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!

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.

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!