From the classics of the Ancient world, to the modern writers, to contemporary experimentalists, literature has stirred the hearts of people for millennia. Poets, novelists, historians, non-fiction writers and even philosophers have explored all of the topics that are near and dear the human heart. One such topic is gambling, which is as old as the art of literature itself.
Throughout history, many writers, both of fiction and non-fiction, have written on the topic of gambling and casinos. With the emergence of online gambling, we are seeing a lot more people interested in the hobby. We are seeing online casinos platforms get a lot more attention now, which means it is the perfect time to look at some of the best books that explore gambling.
The Gambler by F. Dostoevsky
We are starting out with one of the greatest writers of the modern era, Fyodor Dostoevsky. Considered among the greatest of great Russian writers, Dostoevsky penned classics that inspire moral philosophers to this day. His most famous works are the doorstopper novels, Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. However, one book in his oeuvre that often gets ignored is the semi-autobiographic The Gambler.
The novel follows a young Russian tutor, who is visiting Germany on business. While staying in the hotel, he discovers the establishment’s casino, and is especially enamored by the roulette table. After a few nights, the protagonist finds himself visiting the gambling hall more and more, to a point where he thinks he might not be able to stop.
The Gambler is a short novel, that fast readers will get out of the way in a day or two. While it tackles the topic of gambling, it is much more so a personal story, in which Dostoevsky recounts his own experiences with roulette and gambling. While it is not an autobiography per se, the book does have an element of honesty that is impossible to fake or imitate.
Beat the Dealer by Edward O. Thorp
The gambling industry has certain gaming staples, that make up the foundation on top of which the industry is built. Blackjack is one such staple. The game as it exists today was created in the 19th century. However, many believe that it goes back further than that, and was first played in the 16th century in various European countries.
For most of that history, gamblers have been arguing about the strategies that go into winning a game of blackjack. But, it wasn’t until Edward O. Thorp’s Beat the Dealer: A Winning Strategy for the Game of Twenty-One, that the question was answered. Thorp is often called the godfather of blackjack, and for good reason. He revolutionized the way we think about and play the game, and many consider him the creator of the card-counting strategy.
In Beat the Dealer Thorp lays out his ideas and theories regarding the classic game. Using mathematical formulas, he showed that the house edge of blackjack can be much lower than one could ever imagine. Edward O. Thorp was not just a brilliant gambler and theorist, but also a very clever hedge fund manager, whose theories in that field were also hugely revolutionary.
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
Thus far, we’ve discussed two of the most important books that deal with the gambling industry. For our third entry, we would like to focus on a short novel, that is just simple fun. Ian Fleming was a British novelist who many may not realize was the man behind one of the most iconic fictional characters of all time. We are, of course, referring to the brilliant, MI6 superspy, Agent 007, better known as James Bond.
In the first novel in the series, the world-famous super spy is sent to investigate one of the greatest casinos in the world, the Casino Royale. There, he is expected to find an international crime lord and drug dealer. Most people will be familiar with the Casino Royale story from the incredible film of the same name, starring Daniel Craig and Mads Mikkelsen. However, fans of the movie should certainly read the book, as it holds up wonderfully, even six decades later.
Ian Fleming’s novels were always imbued with a certain passion for gambling, as he was quite a famous gambler in his own right. Though Fleming’s favorite game was baccarat, he also very famously enjoyed roulette and poker. It is because of his passion for these games that Fleming could always write a gambling scene with such finesse and intensity. For fans of gambling and action, Casino Royale, as well as Fleming’s other spy novels are a perfect choice.
Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich
How can we talk about gambling books without bringing up “Bringing Down the House” by Ben Mezrich? This might just be the most popular book that deals with casinos, gambling, and of course, blackjack. For those who don’t know, Ben Mezrich was a member of the infamous MIT blackjack team, who took the casino industry by storm, and managed to beat several establishments across the world at their own game. Mezrich wrote this book, detailing his experiences with the team, as well as the history of it.
Bringing Down the House, however, is more than just a bland history book, retelling the creation of a gambling squad. It is a dramatic retelling of the story behind the team’s creation, their plans and strategies, and of course, how they pulled off, what might be, the greatest feat in gambling history. The book was published in 2002 and was Ben Mezrich’s first successful novel. He has written four books since then, but his first remains among his best. For those who would like a quick introduction to the concept, and what the book is about, the film 21 is a direct adaptation, starring some pretty well-known actors. While it may not be the best gambling film ever made, it is a competent, simple-to-watch movie, that is going to prepare you for the novel.
