"Portland, Oregon grew up with lots of revelry and little regulation. After the last tree fell in logging season and after the workday ended on the docks, those young men broke out the cards. Saloon culture offered alcohol, sex, gambling, and other diversions. This book traces the storied and scandalous history of Portland, from the underground and elite saloons and gambling rings to the vice, scandal, and fun they brought. Readers will meet the impresarios,...

For fans of Bringing Down the House and Positively Fifth-a Sports Illustrated writer shares the story of a heavyset, bipolar, and charming pool hustler. In most sports the pinnacle is Wheaties-box notoriety. But in the world of pool, notoriety is the last thing a hustler desires. Such is the dilemma that faces one Danny Basavich, an affable, generously proportioned Jewish kid from Jersey, who flounders through high school until he discovers the...

"Wexler's gripping narrative leads us through the dungeon of a compulsive gambler's world--chasing the big win and coming up with empty pockets--and how his addiction drove him and his wife, Sheila, to the edge of life. With help, they managed to escape, and together they have devoted themselves to helping others with the problem they know so well."--Page [4] of cover.

"Casinos are designed for distraction, so it helps to know a bit about when the odds are in your favor and when they're not before you push a stack of chips onto a table. Professional blackjack player Kevin Blackwood and lifelong sports bettor Swain Scheps know a thing or two about casino gambling. In Casino Gambling For Dummies, these seasoned gaming veterans guide you through the essential strategies for walking out of the casino ahead of the game....

Based on extensive insider interviews and participation, author Ben Mezrich's Straight Flush tells the rags-to-riches tale of a group of University of Montana frat brothers who turned a weekly poker game in the basement of a local dive bar into AbsolutePoker.com, one of the largest online companies in the world. At its height, Absolute Poker was an online empire earning more than a million dollars a day, following savvy business strategy and even...