The Most Anticipated Gambling Books This Year

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A woman lying back on the couch while reading a book.
BetMGM Mar 24, 2022, 5:13 AM

There’s nothing quite like settling down with a good book on a late Sunday afternoon, the sun setting on the western horizon, and your drink and snacks of choice on the table next to you, except maybe hitting the jackpot in your next session of online gambling

Books for gamblers are designed to keep you in the know. If you’re determined to become a better casino player, you have to adopt a studious mindset in order to learn about the best casino game strategies. Books about gambling are an important resource to absorb and apply tips and tricks at the casino table. Here are details about some of this year’s best gambling books and casino game guides.

Books for Beginners

It’s important for beginners to seek out educational materials when learning how to play casino games such as blackjack and poker. Books that explain the basic concepts, terminology, and rules are very helpful. Take a look at the best books about casino games for beginners.

“Getting Started in Hold’em” — Ed Miller

This is a book for Texas hold’em poker beginners. Ed Miller does a fantastic job of introducing aspects of the game that a novice player should first learn about. Novice players can read about the rules of the game, the difference between fixed limit and no-limit, tournaments, starting hand requirements, pot equity, pot odds, and bluffing. 

It is an easy-to-read book that also introduces intermediate and advanced strategies. Take a break from the best fiction books on poker and spend a little time learning the basics of the game.

“The Gambler’s Bible” — John Patrick

“The Gambler’s Bible” is a must for any online casino player’s bookshelf. It’s easy to follow, and it provides plenty of useful advice for playing casino games. “The Gambler’s Bible” helps you choose games that have the best chance of winning and provides bankroll management strategies. You can learn the basics of gambling and the value of things in different games. John Patrick uses data and experience to help you evolve from a general casino visitor to a serious player.

Valuable Philosophy for Gamblers

Philosophy, in all its shapes and forms, has a strong presence in gambling. It’s about adapting to the ebb and flow of luck and understanding the role of chance. Here are some books that are quite helpful for understanding the mysticism beyond the physical world of gambling — and they may even improve your life, too.

“Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets” — Nassim Nicholas Taleb

This book is said to be on par with the greatest philosophy readings on ego and probability. “Fooled by Randomness” discusses an ever-present phenomenon in everyday life: the role of chance and uncertainty. Taleb examines the role of chance in daily life and aims to draw a line between a chaotic, random, and unforeseeable series of events and how the mind creates explanations. This book provides a great look at the role of chance in your casino experiences.

Taleb, previously a professional trader, uses his experience to explain his point of view. These theories are universal and apply to almost every area of life, including the casino floor. Some of the topics addressed in this book include fortunes that were acquired by luck, rare events, and the role of serotonin.

“Gambling With Philosophy: Where Chance Meets Decision Making” — Stan Baronett

Stan Baronett weaves gambling with philosophy to illustrate how chance is involved in every part of life. It creates a story where a career in philosophy and an interest in gambling come about through chance occurrences. There is an emphasis on chance as a natural random part of the world, contrasted with the common reference to luck as a metaphysical force. It’s a great book for gamblers, as chance and luck are always up for debate.

“The Logic of Sports Betting” — Ed Miller and Matthew Davidow

Ed Miller is known for his informative books on poker and gambling, while Matthew Davidow is a sports modeler. The two have teamed up to provide a great overview of how sportsbooks work, and they provide strategies that make anyone from novice to pro think about their next move. You can learn about “middling,” “synthetic holds,” and the “vig” that bookmakers take with each bet. “The Logic of Sports Betting” is one of the best sports gambling books and casino game guides for recreational gamblers.

“A Man For All Markets” — Edward O. Thorp

Edward O. Thorp invented card counting and proved that you could do the seemingly impossible. “A Man For All Markets” tells the story of what Thorp did, how he did it, his passions and motivations, and the curiosity that has driven him to seek unconventional game solutions. 

This book is considered an instant classic that challenges readers to think logically about a seemingly irrational world. If you’re interested in learning more about gambling mathematics, this book is ideal.

The Finer Details

Once you’ve got the mindset right and are comfortable with the basics of poker, you’ll probably be ready to finetune your game. Fortunately, there are also some great books to help you take your skills to the next level.

“Poker Workbook: Math & Preflop” — James ‘SplitSuit’ Sweeney

This book helps you understand the math behind the world’s favorite card game, including concepts such as pot odds, implied odds and combos, expected value, 3-betting, and preflop all-ins. Once you’ve mastered the theory, you can also practice what Sweeney has taught before placing your bets. This book is said to have over 1,500 questions and a full answer key to ensure you’re on track to improve your skills. It’s a wealth of poker information.

“The Poker Book: The Rules, The Games, The Lingo” — Hank Cashman

Hank Cashman’s book is a great resource for learning some of the best online poker tournament strategies. Learn the correct terminology before hitting the tables and pick up some essential poker tournament tips. Cashman has written a book that details almost 100 variations of poker, including flop games like hold’em, Omaha, and Pineapple. There are also stud games like razz, Chicago, and baseball. Draw games include jacks or better, ace to five, and badugi. With the help of the Poker Tournament Directors’ Association and Robert ‘The Coach’ Ciaffone, “The Poker Book” aims to become your one source for all games of poker. 

Hone Your Newly Acquired Casino Skills Online

These book releases in 2024 will provide you with so much wisdom. Of course, if you are looking for the best casino games online, then BetMGM is a surefire winner. Just register on the site, find the game that calls to you, place your bets, and see if Lady Luck is on your side. 

If you’d prefer to have fun playing slots, live dealer casino games, or variety games, you won’t be disappointed because they’re all available to play at BetMGM, too. Register at BetMGM Casino for excellent bonuses, and apply your casino game knowledge to a wide selection of online casino games.

Actress Vanessa Hudgens flipping casino chips next to the text "The King of Casinos"
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Our BetMGM editors and authors are casino experts with a wealth of knowledge of the online casino industry at all levels. Their coverage includes company news, game reviews, how-to instructional articles, strategy guides, and editorials showcasing BetMGM’s superior product and game library.

Our BetMGM editors and authors are casino experts with a wealth of knowledge of the online casino industry at all levels. Their coverage includes company news, game reviews, how-to instructional articles, strategy guides, and editorials showcasing BetMGM’s superior product and game library.