10 Must-Read Gaming Books for Newbies and Pros

The most insightful information about gambling may be found in the most traditional sources of all time: books. While practice is essential for success, reading is also necessary because what everyone first needs to have is a broad scope of theoretical knowledge.

You don’t believe us? Perhaps you can take it from the professionals. Some of the biggest personalities in the iGaming (online gambling) industry like Maria Konnikova, Daniel Negreanu, and the infamous MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) students have long turned to reading. As a matter of fact, they shared their expertise and experiences in publications.

The quality of books is what makes them so appealing. They promise accurate information, unbiased and trustworthy judgement, and thorough research. Whether you are a traditional land-based casino player or at a crypto casino, the 10 following titles on this page are a must-read for newbies and pros alike.

Slots may be the most unpredictable casino game, but they are also machines, which means that you don't only gamble with fate and chance. Instead, you play their programmed features.

1. The Slot Machine Answer Book: How They Work, How They've Changed and How to Overcome the House Advantage

Book details:

Author: John Grochowski

Published date: May 1, 1999

Publisher: Bonus Books

Paperback: 150 pages

A solid foundation leads to mastery, and Grochowski's classic book from 1999 can help you grasp the fundamentals of the game. It was prepared in a question-and-answer format for an easier and faster understanding among the newbies.

2. Secrets of Winning Slots

Book details:

Author: Avery Cardoza

Published date: April 1, 1998

Publisher: Cardoza

Paperback: 192 pages

If you have heard or read Cardoza's Gambler's Book Club, you are in for a treat with his other book entitled Secrets of Winning Slots. Through his over 20 tactics, the experienced gambler and skilled author demonstrated to sceptic slot players that there are practical ways to win the game.

3. How to win Millions Playing Slot Machines!: … Or Lose Trying

Book details:

Author: Frank Legato

Published date: February 4, 2000

Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing

Paperback: 186 pages

Frank Legato’s more than two-decade experience shares with you which are true and myths in playing slot machines. As a plus, he also gives not-so-secret tips and tricks in fully maximising your winning chances.

Sports betting features a perfect combination of skills and luck. Since the former is more important, here are a few books to elevate your knowledge of sports, teams, players, and even sportsbooks.

4. Sharp Sports Betting

Book details:

Author: Stanford Wong

Published date: September 1, 2001

Publisher: Pi Yee Press

Paperback: 380 pages

The National Football League (NFL) is one of the world’s most popular and prestigious leagues, thereby making it quite a favourite among sportsbooks and bettors. To get you guided, here is Stanford Wong’s Sharp Sports Betting widely considered the ‘betting bible’ of the U.S.’ sports betting scene.

5. Guide to Sports Betting

Book details:

Author: Ian Hudson

Published date: June 13, 2013

Publisher: eBookPartnership.com

Paperback: 132 pages

If Wong’s betting bible stressed more on the sporting activities in the U.S, here is Hudson’s 2013 work that generally talks about sports betting and sports in the U.K. It is the country where the sports betting we know today began.

6. Gambling Wizards: Conversations with the World’s Greatest Gamblers

Book details:

Author: Richard Munchkin

Published date: April 1, 2003

Publisher: Huntington Press

Paperback: 306 pages

Munchkin is regarded as one of the finest sports betting writers, and it would be an honour to master his craft. Fortunately, you can find them in his 2003 publication, where he talks about the lives and thoughts of some of the world's most prolific pro-gamblers. Here you can learn tips from Billy Walters, Stan Tomchin, and Alan Woods, among others.

Unlike sports betting, blackjack requires simple maths. So, here are some excellent works to help you improve your game.

7. Beat the Dealer: A Winning Strategy for the Game of Twenty-One

Book details:

Author: Edward Thorp

Published date: April 12, 1966

Publisher: Vintage

Paperback: 220 pages

Thorp's Beat the Dealer is a true game-changer in the gaming business. He demonstrated that one approach, card counting, may be used to beat the house edge in blackjack.

8. The World’s Greatest Blackjack Book

Book details:

Author: Lance Humble

Published date: March 17, 1987 (Reprint Edition)

Publisher: Crown

Paperback: 432 pages

Humble is a pro blackjack player and a horse racing trainer. His 1987 work is indeed the world's most comprehensive blackjack handbook because it will teach you everything you need to know about odds, methods to choose the proper casino, and tips to avoid getting tricked.

Poker is a simple game to learn but a challenging one to master. It is the only casino game in which players compete against one another rather than against the dealer. Get a chance to win the pot by reading these books.

9. Small Stakes Hold’em: Winning Big with Expert Play

Book details:

Author: Ed Miller ft. David Sklansky

Published date: July 1, 2004

Publisher: Two Plus Two Pub.

Paperback: 369 pages

Miller is a former college lecturer and an MIT graduate. He was able to articulate all of the difficult principles and methods for nailing low-stakes Hold'em in plain and basic language. Other topics included to expect are implied odds, pot equity, position, suited hands, and pot size, among others.

10. Caro’s Book of Poker Tells: The Psychology and Body Language of Poker

Book details:

Author: Mike Caro

Published date: March 15, 2003

Publisher: Cardoza

Paperback: 320 pages

Even when you play at a crypto casino such as https://bitcasino.jp/, profiling is still an effective poker strategy. However, it can be deceiving if done incorrectly. So, Caro provides science-based methods for reading your opponents in this book. He explains what each 'tell' means, helping you gain an advantage in all poker games even if it is a player's shrug or eye contact.