Mr. Lewis has given us an entertaining and educational book that provides insights and answers to gambling and tax liability issues. It was a quick read, written in an easily understandable format, and a valuable asset in preparing for tax time.

Every chapter had information that helped me with my tax return. Finally I have found an easy to read and understand book with a very helpful step by step approach.

As a future lawyer and avid gambler, I would advise both clients and friends to read this book before they purchase their boarding passes for the riverboat casinos. Mr. Lewis provides a simple plan that can save your winnings!

This book lives up to its reputation as a classic. I've rarely read technical books that are so clearly written and so well illustrated. Magriel provides both before and after illustrations for ideal moves, followed by complete explanations for why some moves are better than others. Section one is identical to his "Beginning Backgammon" book, and the rest of the book is for more advanced play. If you buy the book, make sure you are getting this one (405 pages) not the shorter one.

I've not read Robertie's two volume set for backgammon, but I have read his 501 classic backgammon situations. While this is a great book too, Magriel is the better teacher and writer.

Also, there are plenty of reasonably priced used copies of the hardback version of the book. I bought mine through Amazon used books postings for only $ more than the recent paperback re-release.

This book was once the "bible" for serious backgammon players. Although it has been superceded by Bill Robertie's 2-volume "Advanced Backgammon", it is better for beginners. Outstanding.

The definitive backgammon book. Can turn a beginner to an expert. Well written, logically organized, with several examples and clear explanations. It is very complete, covering all aspects of the game. I particularly liked that it recommends to the beginner openings that generally lead to uncomplicated games and later (once the reader has become more experienced) switches to openings that lead to more involved game play. I have read several backgammon books, and this is by far the best. Definitely worth its price.

If you are going to endure a 4 hour flight or car ride to Vegas, this book is for you. It is a well-written, understandable guide to casino games. It does not try to sell you on a system, or on cash management. It does try to educate you on the odds of winning. It gives you the straight scoop about the games with the best odds- craps and blackjack. It also warns you about games with less favorable odds- the "Big Wheel", roulette and others. Go to the casino with a fighting chance- read Barstow's book.(as you drive through Barstow!) so, as the dealers say in Vegas, "Good Luck!"

I read this several years ago and still refer to it often. Some of the mathematical conclusions may not be totally accurate, but this does not diminish its worth in the least. For anyone interested gambling, or just numbers, it cannot be beat IMO. Many, many ideas on "increasing your odds", interesting anecdotes, and basic info on casino games. Without a doubt, it is worth far more than the 6 bucks!

This book is a must for anyone looking to win at a casino. I have found it to be the most informative guide to casino gambling I have ever read. Barstow's chapter on wagering has greatly improved my casino experiences.

This is one of the best books I have read on gambling in a long, ling, time! His style of writing is straightforward and clear and concise. He explains the odds on craps, blackjack and slots in a manner I can understand and apply. I especially appreciated his payoff schedules on each of the games and the strategy on the video games.
One of the few books I have bought that were worth the money!

A great switch from the mundane world of gambling books, this author presents his own personal experiences in a humorous yet professional manner. His own expertise is relayed through statistical and easy to understand information. I would highly recommend this book to any casino regular who is still not confident in their game.

I really enjoyed reading James Crowder's book, Casino Gambling for Fun and Profit. It was very informative and helpful to the beginner and the experienced player. I have read a lot of gambling books, but I was especially impressed with the way Dr. Crowder mixed some humor and some of his own experiences into the book. Anyone can write statistics down, but this book captures my attention and makes for enjoyable reading and learning.

By using george's philosophy,I not only have made a lot of extra money for myself,but I am amazed by what I can get out of the casino for free.Most times they come to me and ask me if I need anything.I get free cigarettes,drinks,rooms,shows,money to spend in gift shop,etc.The system is wonderful,everyone should try it,it works.

Ever since I first stepped into a casino, I always thought it would be useful to find a book or a guide that would provide an inside peek into the hidden and understated apsects of the casino world. George Pappadopoulos has written such a book. And in one pleasant read, anyone interested in really playing the casino game will find themselves winning - at all levels- very quickly.

Mr. Pappadopoulos' first book allowed me to enjoy Black Jack as a table experience. It gave me the confidence I needed and some extra spending money.

This book broadens the experience to include the whole casino and take advantage of its perks ("comps" in casino jargon).

Definitely worth much, much more than the cost of the book.

His easy writing style make his insights and experiences easy to grasp and internalize.

As a Southern California-based mystery writer, I have been genuinely impressed by Martha Lawrence's works. Many people initially react to Ms. Lawrence's psychic detective as a silly gimmick. As created by Ms. Lawrence, Elizabeth Chase is a fully-realized and realistic character. In this fourth outing,PISCES RISING, Elizabeth is mourning the death of her lover, and she becomes involved in investigating homicides that occur on an Indian reservation. Gambling issues play a major part in this novel, as does Native American beliefs. Ms. Lawrence tells a fine tale with a swiftly moving plot and fabulously drawn characters. Another winner for Martha Lawrence.

I just love entering Martha Lawrence's world, and I so hate to leave it! This one is her best yet, and the others are terrific too. ( I'd recommend reading them all chronologically.) I applaud her gutsiness as an author in doing away with appealing characters in situations that realistically might call for that. (I'm reminded of T. Jefferson Parker doing the same with Tim Hess in The Blue Light--a very interesting and appealing character.) ... was a real loss, I felt, but it's clear that she has even better characters up her sleeve.. I'm particularly drawn to the Sequoia character in this book. Wish I knew someone like him.

Her ear for dialogue is unerring...I'm a stickler for fake-sounding conversation and I can't find remember a false note being struck in any of her books. Wish you could write faster, Martha!

I've been a fan of Martha Lawrence ever since her first book, following her psychic detective, Elizabeth Chase, around the zodiac from Murder in Scorpio to the current Pisces Rising. Her gutsy detective, Chase, combining sound detective skills with her psychic gifts, sets out to discover the murderer of casino owner, Dan Aquillo. Along the way she encounters one of Lawrence's most compelling characters, the Native American shaman, Sequoia. Lawrence introduces the reader to some fascinating Native American lore, as she combines a taut, thrilling tale with tantalizing psychic phenomena. Combining suspense with New Age is rare, but fascinating. The only other book I can think of that does that successfully is "The President's Astrologer", which interweaves an exciting political drama with the world of astrology.

An indispensable guide to online gambling. Haywood does a good job of explaining the pitfalls online gamers take. He reviews the distinction between "dairy" and "beef" casinos, the various brands of software, gaming portals, ways to win money, and equally important, methods of wagering to avoid. He explains how you can make bonuses last for you and make money. My only complaint with the bookis that some of the casinos he lists at the end of the book as "dairy" casinos offer small or no bonuses. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend this to any prospective online gambler. Good job, Bill!

Although the information in this book is now a bit dated because technology and new internet things keep going so fast, it's still worth getting. The only really outdated thing is parts where he says to play two or three times what you buy in for. These days the rules for online casinos state a minimum wagering requirement and it's all done by computers so there's no need for cover betting like that. Anyways, back to my review... GREAT BOOK!!!! BUY IT!!!!! I am a college kid and I made a nice easy two thousand dollars in a couple months from online casinos thanks largely to teh helpful info in this book. I averaged a little over 30 bucks an hour with all teh extra play and time spent researching-- but still-- it sure beats other forms or working! I got to refresh my basic strategy and play blackjack and make money! It was great! You aren't gonna get rich quick or quit your job, but for some easy extra cash, this book more than pays for itself!!!

This is one of the most honest books I have ever read on a gambling subject. The author lays out what it takes to earn money off of casino sign-up bonuses. If you think that you can just sign up, play some hands of black jack and cash out the bonus, you would be well advised to read this book before continuing, it won't work. First you will need a credit card and the ability to pay the bill as soon as the Casino charges arrive, as the author so honestly puts it, playing for bonuses and paying cash advance and interest fees won't cut it. However, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject.

1) The author shows you what type of records you will keep to dispute payment claims.(A lot)
2) How to spot unsavory casinos.
3) What games to play to minimize the house edge (BlackJack, Video Poker) as well a very useful introduction to the games and strategies. Assume you will lose money on these games but your loses will be offset by bonus money.
4) A very clear explaination of variance and how to size your bets, best I've read anywhere. Worth the price of the book by itself.
5) How to handle disputes with on-line casino's to get results.
6) How to bet so you look like a gambler than a match-player.
7) A sample diary of couple of days of betting, so you see if this is really how you want to spend your time.
8) The potential pitfalls in earning referral bonuses.
9) Just about everything else you need to get started.

It's not easy money, but I believe the author gives you all the information you need to judge for yourself if this is a business you want to get into. Believe me, after reading this book you will see that it is indeed a business. Wish I could give this book a higher rating.

To knowledge seekers, the ability to understand and beat a system is the entire game. In this book, Skiena describes how he and some of his students wrote a computer program to win money betting on professional jai alai matches. Along the way, he explains the origins of the game and some of the basic rules, the fundamental bets that can be made as well as the meaning of statements such as pari-mutuel betting. His program does work well, in that he quadruples his money in a short time. Once that is done, he gives the money to a university charity, hoping to make his money from writing this book.
The fact that such a program could be created is not surprising. Jai-alai is a sport where individuals compete one-on-one or in teams of two, and the betting patterns determine the payoffs. It is much easier to simulate these types of matchups and predict the outcome than it is for team games. Baseball managers have been doing such modeling for years. If my memory serves me correctly, the first to do it in major league baseball was Davey Johnson, who kept detailed statistics on all pitcher-batter matchups. All of his decisions concerning who to put up to bat were then based on playing the percentages. That is essentially what Skiena does, although with a different twist. Pari-mutuel betting is where those who wager are betting against each other, so the patterns of wagering determine the payoffs. The patterns of betting are also factored into his predictions. These conditions make it possible for someone to make money creating such a system, but only as long as no one else is doing it. If others begin to use the same system, then the players are betting against each other, destroying the opportunity to make a profit. Therefore, his very act of publishing this book probably means that his system can no longer be used to win at jai-alai betting.
This is an excellent example of how basic mathematical modeling is done. Use data of previous results to form a model of what has happened in order to predict what will happen. Skiena writes with a wit and rigor that is rarely seen in mathematics. Very little mathematics background is needed in order to understand the explanations of the behavior of the program and why it works.
I found this book so interesting that I stayed up very late finishing it. It reads like a novel, but teaches you a lot about mathematics. Instructors in mathematical modeling and computer programming can find many interesting ideas for classroom exercises in it. As long as no one takes it too seriously, it is all in good, clean fun.

It's an enjoyable read. Pretty light on mathematics and software engineering though. You can easily get through this book in an evening or two and refresh some of your thoughts on modeling and statistics. Steven Skiena keeps a web site ...that's worth a peek and has reading material on this work there. Wish the book had shipped with a CD though so you could play around with his model and simulate a few games of Jai Alai for fun.

This is a fascinating book. It captures exactly the excitement of starting out in programming and working on a project in your spare-time simply because the project seems like a fun, cool thing to write, such as a program for predicting the outcome of football games. Even if you don't come from a mathematics/programming background, I think you'll find the book very interesting. Chapter 4, "The Impact of the Internet", alone, is worth the cost of the book.

Now in an updated fourth edition, Secrets Of Modern Slot Playing by freelance gaming expert and writer Larry Mak is a fascinating and helpful book specifically designed for slot machine game players and will prove highly informative for anyone interested in how casino slot machine playing really works, tips and techniques for making the most of slot machine betting, how computerized slot machines function, and much, much more. A practical, detailed, entertaining, and highly recommended guide written both for those who gamble and those who do not gamble but want to learn more about the ubiquitous and popular slot machine, Secrets Of Modern Slot Playing will prove to be as "reader friendly" as it is informed and informative.

I can't believe I have played all these years without knowing the information contained in this book. There is no magic here, but there are strategies that casinos use in placing loose slots amongst tighter slots. Knowing where these slots are may increase your winnings. There is other helpful knowledge here such as avoiding progressives and common sense ways to get a grip on how to curtail your losses (which involves controlling yourself basically). But how many of us really take a minute to set up a plan how much we are going to let ourselves play with? Like I said, its not magic, but a lot of common sense tips to use to make sure you are playing with your head and not your emotions....

Excellent book! Step-by-step plans for playing slots quarters to dollars are easy to follow. Humorous stories entailed in book really give you a perspective on how others play slots. Anyone who wants to prolong their sessions from losing to at least break even should consider this book. Author does not "pontificate" on perils of slot playing...assumes adults should know perils of slot playing. Author dispels quite a few myths on slot playing and gets to the bones of how to actually, conciously play. Also lists the various states/casinos with payouts per slot average.

As an avid and successful Video Poker player, and author of "Mastering Video Poker - a professional player's secrets revealed", I always like to take a look at the current state of video poker strategy guides. This book will teach you the basic whys and why nots of various plays. Lacking is any attention to the more advanced psychological aspects of training and playing, as well as how to truly take the casinos for all their worth in player perks, treatment, bonuses and general high-roller benefits.

I purchased this book because I saw a TV show that said "Video poker can be beat". I found this hard to believe but it is apparently true on some machines with perfect play. Ah, there is the rub. Along with the book I bought a computer program that teaches you how to play and shows you each error you make. It isn't real hard to learn how to play perfectly but requires a person that can really keep focused for hours on end. Most folks with the intellect to learn this could make much more money doing something (anything ?) else but if you have to gamble this is your best shot. This book with Frugal Gambler and some real effort will make your Vegas trips more fun. I don't think Vegas casinos enjoy losing so I wonder how long this will last ?

Great coverage of probability and numbers behind the game.
Easy to follow rules that are much shorter than anything out there with very very very little dropoff in expected return. I highly recommend this book.