Today's guest is Steve Bourie, the publisher of one of gaming's most popular annuals, the American Casino Guide. The book doesn't just tell readers where casinos are located in the U.S. It fills in all kinds of information --- the games, the food, the phone numbers, websites, RV facilities, and amenities such as golf courses, beauty shops, ice cream parlors and the like. Steve's background in the casino industry, coupled with his extensive knowledge about gambling make his book an award-winning effort. If you're new to the American Casino Guide or need to know exactly what's in it (including more than $1000 worth of coupons), you'll get all that and more in this interview.

A quick note: Howard has been temporarily out of commission with laryngitis so a new (and decidedly amateur) voice hosts this episode. Maryann is interviewing Eric Cybulski who has an interesting approach to craps rolls. His book, Craps Wagering Strategies Using Actual Rolls,
looks at what should happen according to statistics and compares that information to actual casino rolls to see how the values compare. Eric talks about why the game seems to be languishing in the casinos, what the resorts might do to bring back the excitement and interest, and how he came to be interested in the game. He discusses how he learned to play and how he began to formulate his unique theory.

On this episode, Howard Schwartz interviews Steve Davidowitz, internationally known race and turf writer. Originally published in 1978 as Betting Thoroughbreds, a Professional's Guide for the Horseplayer and revised in 1995, Steve’s best-selling book is now substantially revised, expanded and updated as Betting Thoroughbreds for the 21st Century -- and the information is still solid, still definitely timely. Additionally, Davidowitz has contributed to several other racing books, all of which are available from Gamblers Book Shop. In this broadcast he talks about the state of thoroughbred racing, of the availability of material for the handicapper, and about playing the races.In this broadcast he talks about the state of thoroughbred racing, of the availability of material for the handicapper, and about playing the races.

Several years back, Ed Lacki produced software to incorporate sports handicapping and biorhythms, but he was ahead of his time. People were interested in the concept, but back then few people had home computers. Lacki has now resurrected the software, updated the files and information and in this interview with Howard Schwartz, he talks about the theories, the programming and the software.

This week’s show starts with Howard’s lively and uber fascinating interview with Gene Kilroy, one-time business manager/confidante/get-the-job-done man for the great Muhammad Ali. Perhaps a quote about Ali from Kilroy best describes this guest best: "I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in the world just to call him my friend. If I was to die today and go to heaven it would be a step down. My heaven was being with Ali.''  (From an interview conducted by Tim Dahlberg, AP, January 17, 2007). Kilroy’s career covered the sports, gambling and entertainment arena, from the front office of the Philadelphia Eagles to the back lots of MGM movies to the top floor offices of some of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas. His reminiscences, thoughts, and opinions here make for a memorable broadcast.

In the second part of the show Howard talks to Las Vegas’ sports talk radio show professional John Kelly. A graduate of Northwestern University, Kelly has been a fascinated observer and participant in the life of the “most exciting city in the world.” The former commentator of the Stardust Line, the longest-running, single-sponsored sports show in the country, Kelly now hosts Leroy’s Sports Hour, available in Nevada on Fox and ESPN Radio outlets and on the Internet at www. AmericaWagering.com. Kelly provides mucho insight into the fast-paced gambling scene, with particular focus on sports wagering.

Arnold Snyder, more noted as an a professional gambler and author of numerous blackjack books (The Big Book of Blackjack and Blackbelt in Blackjack among them) as well as poker (The Poker Tournament Formula and The Poker Tournament Formula 2) has ventured into the (under)world of topless clubs in Las Vegas. Titled Sin City Advisor's Topless Vegas (276 pages, paperbound, $14.95), the book offers tips and guide lines and profiles the best and worst of the topless establishments. In this conversation with Howard, Snyder colorfully describes his research and his funny episodes in interviewing potential resources and intertwines the tale with anecdotes about his earlier days as a 21 player and author. He also explains his interesting transition to tournament poker player and poker book author.

Dale Yeazel, one of the most diverse and talented dealers (for craps and blackjack) talks about his experiences working at the tables - including customers with odd approaches to the game of craps; his opinion of whether a player can really control the dice; his opinions on good and bad dealers. Yeazel is a Las Vegas resident for more than 20 years and he's produced several electronic books geared for learning and dealing the games.

For more than two decades, Victor Royer has been a player of casino games, author of gaming books, and a consultant to the gaming industry. He has been contributing columns to various publications around the world since 1984. Colorful, entertaining, and very knowledgeable, Victor is one of Gamblers Book Shop’s favorite author of gaming guides for the casual player and in today’s super interview with Howard he covers a wide range of gambling subjects.

And the long-awaited interview with The Duke, the $1-$2 buy-in no-limit cash game expert who terrorizes the players in downtown Las Vegas … plus some good, solid poker advice from Dr. Alan Schoonmaker, not as much of a terror as The Duke (or so he says), but a force to be dealt with nonetheless.

Howard's first guest, is Michael Hillin. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Michael is an experienced, and innovative designer in workbook statistics for football, baseball, basketball and horse racing. He specializes in football, and baseball and designs specific statistical spread sheet to meet his own and other handicapper's needs. His says "I went from a bicycle to a Mercedes in Las Vegas, only a few can say that! ." He retired in 2008 and handicaps full time. He is the publisher of Las Vegas Linemaker Workbook.

The second guest goes by the name Daniel Dravot and he is the author of Color of Blackjack He's a professional card counter, who uses the KO blackjack strategy and count to help him spend his life as a money-earning card counter. Realizing that the count might be too difficult for some people, David developed a terrific charting technique that makes the KO and TKO count easier for the average player to master.

Andy Iskoe, author of many books on college and pro football betting and an expert on sports betting for more than 30 years, offers advice and tips on betting smartly, and in his own machine gun-like style of presenting material, highlights what he believes bettors should be alert for; what the impact might be if New Jersey got into the legal sports betting business and what bettors should look for before placing a wager in the 2009 college and pro football season.

Sal Piacente, a most respected surveillance expert, born in Brooklyn, now working in Florence, Ky., visited GBC and talks about protecting yourself when playing poker; scams he has seen, heard about, detected-- plus his opinions on betting poker online. Piacente, who knows the games of three-card monte and the shell game. A true student of all the games, he's colorful, never boring and offers true-to-life advice about detecting cheats and protecting yourself.

Guest number one for our first podcast in our new store location is Ed Hattori, a longtime customer now living in Canada. Ed talks about "finding" our new store (located three miles from our original spot), which is less than a half-mile from the famous Liberace Museum. The enthusiastic Hattori, who makes Gambler's Book Shop a must-visit place, offers his observations about what makes the store unique, the kind of books he shops for, how the city has changed since he first visited Las Vegas.
Mike Spinetti, owner of Spinetti's Home Gaming Supplies, a member of a pioneer Nevada Family (one of his relatives was mayor of Ely,NV generations ago) and a historian in his own way, discusses collecdtible gambling paraphernalia, including the buying and selling of old chips. Spinetti describes the boom in poker--what made it all happen, the characters he's met and played against, about the types and quality of poker chips, scam artists, attending gambling collectible shows.

Frank Wiese, author of Eat Professional Poker Players Alive! was born on Fon du Lac, WI., and resides in Madison, WI. He calls himself "a product of the (Chris) Moneymaker effect," meaning he was one of the many thousands of new players drawn to poker--the live game, tournaments and the Internet after Moneymaker, an unknown (at the time) who went on to win the World Series of Poker in 2003, beating more than 800 other entrants. Moneymaker took home $2.5 million that year. The following year, 2,000 players entered, a year later, 5,000, and in 2006, more than 8,000 hopefuls took a shot at the big prize. The energetic Wiese plays much of his poker in Chicago, but will be in Las Vegas and hoping to win a bracelet in the 2009 WSOP. He's also a correspondent for several poker magazines. He talks about what he's learned about the game--the skills required and the more than 150 books he's read. Players like Jerry Yang, 2007 WSOP winner, Mike Sexton, Lee Childs and Michael Binger are friends of his and offered ideas and input for his book which took two years to write He discusses strategies, skills, bravery at the table, handling sometimes obnoxious opponents, why he disagrees with Daniel Negreanu's playing philosophy on occasion and offers tips to aspiring world class players.

 Bob Nersesian, author of Beat The Players is a Las Vegas attorney who often represents professional gamblers--in particular, blackjack counters, professional slot players and sports bettors. Nersesian's 2006 book is vital for those who wonder about the powers of a casino to bar players who show card-counting skills, who are sometimes restrained against their will--"back-roomed" or arrested or mistreated unfairly. Nersesian discusses specific cases and instances where he defended "advantage players" who found an edge the tables using mental skills--and he offers suggestions on how Nevada and other states should be regulating and recognizing the rights of some of the sharpest players. He discusses the controversial "facial recognition" devices (biometrics) casinos use and how effective and expensive the process is.

Ed Rhea Jr. has been in the gaming business more than 30 years, as dealer, supervisor, manager, surveillance expert, and comes from a family with a background in gambling throughout the nation. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable about all forms of gambling, Rhea, a Las Vegas native, discusses his new books on detecting cheats in blackjack and a new direction for players to take in regard to beating the game of baccarat. He also recommends other books on the game to reinforce his approach to beating the Baccarat, Midi Baccarat and Mini Baccarat. His new books are HOW TO ACTUALLY WIN AT ALL BACCARAT TABLES, AND IT'S LEGAL, and SCAM BUSTER SYSTEM FOR BLACKJACK BOOK AND CD. Mike McGuire, who hails from Scottsdale, AZ., is originally from Columbus, Oh., and is an enthusiastic sports fan who enjoys collecting and compiling facts and trivia about sports--particularly Ohio State football, the Heisman Trophy for college standouts and discusses how he compiled thousands of facts about golf, tournaments, winners, player nicknames, history and rules of the game. McGuire, a collector vintage golf clubs, self-published his books and chats about his research and what aspiring authors should know about getting their own book published. His book is titled MAJORS GOLF TRIVIA Q + A.

Byron Hebert, author of Power Baccarat 2, hails from Detroit, but has lived in Las Vegas for many years. He taught math in Saudi Arabia while working there, has been fascinated with the game of baccarat for a long time. His book, published in 1999 and updated in recent years, is one of the most respected works ever on the game; designed for beginners and advanced players. In this episode Hebert offers tips to baccarat players, his observations about costly errors players have made, table etiquette, taking advantage of streaks, the importance of money management, and a comparison of mini-baccarat with the big table. Mickey Day, an ex-New Yorker with some very colorful language and as many stories about betting on sports or craps, lives in Las Vegas and has authored Plug-In Parlay Systems and Craps With Einstein. During his interview Day discusses betting little to win a lot in a variety of sports betting situations while offering every level (beginner to old pro) advice on shooting craps. This includes smart bets, keeping away from the "sucker" bets, avoiding bankroll destruction and applying discipline at the tables.

Walter Seip of Las Vegas, author of Dynamic Ability (Mathematical Determination of a Thoroughbred's Capacity to Race) talked about the importance of weight, pace, paddock and post inspection during the Gambler's Book Shop's April 15 podcast. His book takes a mathematical approach to handicapping thoroughbreds and he comments about the authors, the handicapping experts he's been privileged to meet here in Las Vegas and elsewhere, along with recommended books.
Seip, in his 60s, offers some interesting tidbits about handicapping, how the game has changed--even where he suggests horseplayers go for to handicap the ponies when in Las Vegas. Seip loves to bet the horses and he tells why—along with how you can improve your own handicapping.
Greyhound’s Books owner Phil D. is a one-of-a-kind book buyer, seller and appraiser. He buys and sells the best and tells you why. A lover of books since his childhood days in Boston and elsewhere, he talks about some of the best books ever written about Las Vegas, organized crime and some of the movers and shakers of the city, in his own dry and witty way.
Phil is available from noon to 5 Monday to Saturday at his book store to appraise books--but he charges, so inquire ahead of time by phone if possible.

Howard Schwartz talks about the history & future of Las Vegas & gambling with renowned writer, columnist & reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, John L. Smith.
He is the author of several great books on Las Vegas including: SHARKS IN THE DESERT, ON THE BOULEVARD (PAPERBOUND), NO LIMIT - RISE AND FALL OF BOB STUPAK, RUNNING SCARED: STEVE WYNN, BLUEGRASS DAYS NEON NIGHTS and MOVING TO LAS VEGAS.

Andy Iskoe, originally from New York then, later, Arkansas has been a Las Vegas resident for the past 25 years. He is considered one of the top numbers crunchers in the nation in regard to analyzing sports betting trends, especially in football, basketball and baseball and is a respected speaker at sports wagering seminars. A frequent guest on sports talk shows, Iskoe has an encyclopedic mind and owns a company appropriately called Logical Approach in Las Vegas.

The 52-year-old Richard Lehman, author of Slot Operations—The Myth and the Math, is Casino Manager for the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino in Downtown Las Vegas. (The hotel, the oldest in the city, was opened in 1906. It has 106 rooms and 325 employees, and is owned by Derek and Greg Stevens of Desert Rock Enterprises.) Lehman, a 30-year veteran of the casino industry, has been vice president for the Las Vegas-based Navegante Group, and has served as vice president of slots and casino operations, while consulting for Korean and Taiwanese casinos. He also writes for Casino Enterprise Management magazine.

John Braswell of Auburn, Alabama has been a computer analyst of greyhound races, and book author for more than a decade. He authored How You Can Win at Greyhound Racing Like a Pro and Win Like a Pro—l00l Ways to Beat the Greyhounds. The latter title will soon be available at Gambler’s Book Shop. It was inspired by research provided by the late greyhound betting legend and author Jack Fink of Florida.

 

Greg Gift, originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a former poker player who found joy and profit in sports handicapping, primarily in football betting, particularly the pros, specializes in betting and the teaching of how to bet the underdog. His book, Winning NFL Totals Strategy was extremely popular in the 1980s.

Tom Sexton, better known as the man who sounds just like his brother (WPT broadcaster Mike Sexton), is a casual poker player who maintains sextonscorner.com, a site devoted to all things poker. The site publishes Tom's interviews with man of the most colorful players in the game's history, including Johnny Chan, Archie Karas, and Chip Reese. He's a tireless promoter for the site, for his brother and for all things poker. In this interview he talks to Howard about the famous names he's encountered, about the past, present and future of poker and about the laws against online poker.

Jack Newton, one of the world's sharpest gamblers alive talks with us about how he came to learn how to cheat the cheaters, survive shoot-outs, and gamble & win like few men have.

Jack has penned an autobiography titled Gentleman Jack Newton—Confessions of a Crossroad Gambler (180 pages, paper bound, $14.95). It’s a great book about the “good old days" of gambling. The man who’s seen it and done it all in more than 60 years at the tables joins his publisher in telling some amazing stories that didn't make it into the book.

Jack Sheehan is a famed public speaker & author. "Skin City" and "The Players" are among the books by Sheehan which are available at the Gambler's Book Shop. Howard Schwartz asks Sheehan about his upcoming projects, past writings & interviews with famous gamblers and Las Vegas personalities.

Journalist Norm Clarke is known for offering early insight and coverage of happenings in Las Vegas. The eye patched "Man-About-Town" discusses his latest book, "Norm Clarke's Vegas Confidential", now available at Gambler's Book Shop.

Rob Singer is a professional gambler from Arizona who specializes in video poker. He began  his second career in 1990, and has been playing for profit since 1997, after developing a money management and strategy combination that goes against the mathematical theory of play recommended by many experts. He uses five distinct  strategies, depending on circumstances such as time and goals and when combined  they have helped him consistently reach and surpass his yearly win goals every year since 1997. A controversial figure in the video poker circles because of his contrarian approach,  he is the author of two books: The Undeniable Truth about Video Poker and Ramblin' and Gamblin' thru Nevada, both of which are available from gamblersbook.com. Rob has his own website vptruth.com.  where he posts his methodology for free.

This episode begins with an informal discussion with Kevin Fitzgerald, a long-time poker player shares some of his thoughts on poker, life and the rest of it all.

Glenn McGrew has been in the center of the Las Vegas betting world for over two decades. Making numbers used by some of the biggest players in the world, he has supplied overnight lines to more than 70 newspapers across the U.S. and Canada since the early 90s. His power ratings in college and pro football and basketball are considered the sharpest in the country. Last year Glenn posted his college and pro football selections in the Station Casino's All-Star handicapping contest, finishing second. Glenn can now be seen weekly throughout the football season on ProLine and Sports Desk on the USA cable network.

Howard Schwartz & acclaimed writer Richard Eng discuss various aspects of horse racing in advance of this weekend's Breeders' Cup. Horses to follow, betting strategies, and factors that may affect the races are all covered. For the newest books on thoroughbreds, visit www.GamblersBook.com

Nick Gullo wrote the of the first casino marketing textbook in 1980. He was a general manager and vice-president of casino marketing for numerous casino operations over a 30-year career.

His book, Casino Marketing 101, provides insight and a framework for the putting various marketing concepts into use in the gaming industry. It addresses such topics as marketing department organization, property analysis, rating systems, customer complimentary criteria, promotions and junkets. The text explains and outlines casino credit implementation and it usage, and it details the functions of a casino host and credit executive.

Looy Simonoff is a well known magical inventor who makes Las Vegas his home. Looy's popular effect, "Earth Shoes,"  was performed twice daily on the Las Vegas Strip by Mack King. Looy taught a magic class at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, his works have been widely published in the books of Harry Lorayne, Allan Ackerman and Paul Harris, and he is a Professor Emeritus in the math department.
If you ever ask him how he is doing, he will give you his signature "Terrible,Terrible"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      In this episode, two notable gambling authors sit in an talk about sports betting & poker: Reed Hogben MD, author of THE BETTING DOCTOR, and the newly-released e-book, THE BETTING DOCTOR: THE ESSENTIALS.

Nick Christenson, co-author WINNING STRATEGIES FOR NO-LIMIT HOLD'EM

The Author Richard Orlyn is a JD/MBA, author, professor, and Los Angeles-based entertainment attorney. His extensive finance, entertainment and legal background allow him to address not only the probability theory essential for intelligent play but also the legal issues that impact both player and casino.
Richard Orlyn’s book No-Nonsense Craps: The Consummate Guide to Winning at the Crap Table is unique in its approach, uncompromising in its integrity, the book includes Mr. Orlyn’s trademarked Table Time Plus^TM strategy for prevailing at the table.

Related: Craps 101 by Michael Skaff PhD

Barry Tanenbaum is the author of Advanced Limit Hold'em Strategy: Techniques for Beating Tough Games, and co-author of Limit Hold'em: Winning Short-Handed Strategies. Barry gives lessons and blogs online atwww.barrytanenbaum.com

WSOP Part 2 - JOE WALSH, ALAN SCHOONMAKER, LOU KRIEGER, ROLF SLOTBLOOM, JOHN BLOWERS

World Series of Poker Part 2: A great variety of guests spent time at our booth during this year's WSOP Gaming Life Expo, which ran concurrent with WSOP game events at the Rio Pavilion Convention Center. This episode features interviews with:

Joe Walsh, who wrote the legendary gambling movie California Split. He also is the author of a new book, Gambler on the Loose.

Alan Schoonmaker PhD, whose books on the use of psychology at the poker table always reach bestseller status at our store. His latest work is Your Best Poker Friend.

Lou Krieger, a local poker expert and author of several valuable books on poker including Hold'em Excellence, More Hold'em Excellence, and Poker For Dummies. Krieger's writings can be found at loukrieger.blogspot.com.

Rolf Slotboom visited our booth at the WSOP as well. It was interesting to learn more about this popular Dutch poker pro & author.

John Blowers has created an true-to-life universe for the subject of his novel, Life on Tilt. Listen to learn about the concept behind his book.

World Series of Poker Part 1:
In our longest interview to date, Mike Caro (well known for his game-changing books & videos) is both entertaining and revealing. Mike takes us back to the creation of the early great works on poker that he authored or co-authored such as Doyle Brunson's Super/System & Caro's own Book of Poker Tells. Caro also treats us to some of his current insights into poker & plans for the future. Download, write to CD & save for posterity!

Pat Dittmar is head of trading and development at TradePointTechnologies.com, an organization that develops  and deploys state-of-the-art proprietary trading technologies. Pat feels that successful poker players possess the skills required to play in the one true fast action, around the world, around the clock "Big Game" - the world of financial markets, and TradePointTechnologies recruits its traders exclusively from the poker world. His latest book is Practical Poker Math

Joe Baseel is a 30-year veteran of the casino industry in Las Vegas and Atlantic City and a surveillance expert with first-hand experience managing a casino from his days operating Six-Card Charlie's in Washington. Talking to Joe, you get the feeling he knows everyone in the industry, and since he is a known expert on blackjack cheating he is certainly an interesting person to talk to. Joe Baseel is now living semi-retired in Las Vegas. Now in his 70's, Neil Wolson has 40 spent years as a floorman, boxman, and dealer for some of the biggest casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Now living in Las Vegas, Neil can spin a tale about his experiences from the olden days to modern times on the casino floor. He has witnessed the incredible changes to both the marketing and management of casinos since from 1960's to the present.

Archie Karas is the ultimate gambler, a man who could (and did) turn $10,000 into $17 million only to lose it. Did he use the money to buy an estate, to invest in the market? Nope. Like Nick the Greek Dandolos, Archie liked the action more than the results of the action. He claims to have gambled as much as "anyone in the history of planet," outside the stock market . He came to the U.S. in his teens after leaving Greece, learned to play pool and hustle well while in Los Angeles, graduated to poker and won, then lost big in California card rooms. By 1992 he said he'd lost $2 million in high stakes games, then headed for Las Vegas with $50 in his pocket.... and that's where this interview with the man begins.

David Stratton is the managing editor of Gaming Today, America's oldest gaming newspaper (founded 1976). Stratton, a 1972 graduate of UCLA, won the Stardust Invitational while making his tournament debut in 2003. His point spread record of 21-14 (60%) blitzed a quality field that included the likes of Bryan Leonard, Kevin O'Neill, Ted Sevransky and Steve Fezzik. Stratton, a prolific author, has written six books on the city he knows best: Las Vegas, Nevada. His best-seller, now in its fifth printing, is titled "Insider's Guide to Las Vegas GamingToday.com

Author of the classic baccarat text, Baccarat Made Simple, David Vernon talks with Howard about the game and his book.

Kevin Luckerson , is the owner and founder of POINTSHAVERS, a recent addition to the world wide web. The site offers handicapping services based on Kevin’s research and abilities. The site may be accessed by going to: http://www.pointshavers.com

Jimmy "The Scot" Jordan is a recreational gambler and long-time games instructor. He has worked in that capacity for several major Strip casinos, teaching newcomers how to play the various floor games. He is the author of numerous instructional DVDs that teach the most popular casino games and include hints and tips on how to get the most out of your gaming dollar.

 Tony Salinas, a native of Texas, moved to Las Vegas to enjoy his work--handicapping sports and picking winners. He won the $85,000 Castaways Challenge, the original football handicapping contest, and followed that with numerous other wins, including the $135,000 Hilton Superbook Handicapping Championship

Today Howard interviews a visiting guest from the store, NEIL BUSH. Howard and Neil will talk about Neil’s life and gambling, the books he likes and how he gambles. In the last part of the podcast, Howard will have a short discussion on the latest book arrivals on GamblersBook.com

Jane Haigh has lived in Fairbanks for most of the last 35 years, except for the last few winters which she has spent in Tucson working on her PhD in U.S.; History at the University of Arizona. Jane earned a Masters Degree in Northern Studies from the University of Alaska, served as guest curator for two major exhibits at the University of Alaska Museum, and was a popular speaker for the Alaska Humanities Forum Speakers Bureau. She also served on the School Board, and ran for the state legislature, twice.

"KING CON The Story Of Soapy Smith" is the first full biography in more than forty years, in it Haigh chronicles the rise to power of a man without a conscience. Starting as a street corner shell game artist, Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith rose to power as a gang leader in Denver, then chose raw, lawless Skagway as his headquarters to fleece the thousands heading for the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897. Less than a year later he was dead, killed in a vigilante shootout on the Skagway wharf.  I am busy working on my Dissertation, based on the material I stumbled into while researching Soapy Smith:  "Political Power, Patronage, and Protection Rackets: Municipal Politics and Corruption in Denver 1889-1904". www.janehaigh.com

Bob Dancer Michael S. Skaff, Ph.D

Bob Dancer is the author of several video poker strategy books and numerous strategy cards devoted to the most popular video poker games in the casino. He has also created a tutorial called Video Poker for Winners, software that you can play as a game, use as a tutorial, create strategies, focus on problem areas, check unusual hands, calculate bankroll requirements, figure slot club paybacks, check expected value, and more. When he's not busy earning his living at video poker, he holds seminars and offers private lessons for his winning techniques.

Michael S. Skaff, Ph.D. is a professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Detroit Mercy. For over forty years, Dr. Skaff has been a teacher, consultant, lecturer, and computer programmer for education, business, and industry. He has published at least thirty-five papers and has written a weekly computer column for several local newspapers. His Craps 101 book focuses on taking the fear out of craps for the beginner and his DVD of the same name makes the game seem like child's play. When he's not playing craps or teaching, Dr. Skaff enjoys tending his Koi pond and flower garden. He has run over twenty-five marathons.

Geoff Schumacher is a journalist and author in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2004, Schumacher published "Sun, Sin & Suburbia: An Essential History of Modern Las Vegas"(Stephens Press) His second book, "Howard Hughes: Politics, Paranoia & Palace Intrigue", is now available at Gamblers Book Shop. Schumacher writes a weekly column for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He has been a reporter, editor and columnist for Las Vegas newspapers for 20 years. He is the Review-Journal's director of community publications, overseeing an array of weekly publications, including the View Neighborhood Newspapers, CityLife, El Tiempo and the Pahrump Valley Times.

Dan Gordon is regarded as one of the best sports handicappers of our era and has a winning record as a professional bettor for over two decades. He has written columns that have appeared in the New York Daily News, San Francisco Examiner, Boston Herald, Log Angeles Herald Examiner, College and Pro Football Weekly and other newspapers and magazines and he served as handicapping consultant to Pete Axthelm of NBC, ESPN and Inside Sports Magazine for seven years. His latest book Beat the Sports Books - An Insider's Guide to Betting the NFL is a best-selling work on football betting and is available at Gambler's Book Shop.

Join Larry Grossman of Las Vegas Gaming talk radio fame, as he is interviewed by Howard Schwartz. Veteran broadcast anchor, Larry Grossman has interviewed the gaming and wagering wizards of yesterday, today and tomorrow. On his former radio show, "You Can Bet On It", he has interviewed World Champion poker players that include Amarillo Slim, Puggy Pearson, and Tom McEvoy. Regular guests during the football season included Lem Banker, Mike Lee, Mort Olshan, and Andy Iskoe.

During the 1997 and 1998 season, Grossman hosted a nationally televised show that featured many of the nations' top handicappers.

Larry Grossman is the author of two books, "You Can Bet On it" Volume 1 - Casino Games and Volume 2 - Sports Betting. He is a regular columnist for many gaming publications. Larry has hosted and produced handicapping seminars in Las Vegas.

BIG SID FROM CHICAGO, TALKS ABOUT THE PONYS AND ARLINGTON RACE TRACK

As the year comes to a close, Howard talks about a half dozen of the most popular gaming books at Gambler’s Book Shop, including one title Mafia that reads like a thick rap sheet on top mobsters of the past. Also, he interviews a long-time Gambler’s Book Shop customer from Chicago, Big Sid, a horseplayer, who talks about what the tracks are doing right and wrong, the demographics of the wagering public, and about the writer who influenced him the most.

Bets, Drugs, and Rock and Roll" "The Rise and Fall of the World's First Online Sports Book"

The gambler’s high is like a rush; he feels invulnerable.  That high lasts, though, only until the next big loss. Such is the story of Steve Budin, who created the first online sports betting company. Under the tutelage of his father, a legendary, old-school Miami bookmaker, and with the help of a cocaine-addicted polygamist, Budin revolutionized the shadowy business of spreads by taking them global. But he also stuck to some tried and true methods, like plying clients with trips to Vegas, hookers, and hardcore drugs. In the end, Budin raked in hundreds of millions of dollars and stood on the verge of a deal worth billions more. He took bookmaking into an automated, virtual worldwide casino that anyone could access, anywhere and at any time.  For anyone fascinated by the "wild West" that is internet gambling, here is a rare peek into that exciting, dangerous world.

George Joseph is an authority on gaming protection and cheating. He has served as director of surveillance for Bally's, Paris, Aladdin and Dunes casinos in Las Vegas. He has served as an expert witness and consulting investigator on casino cheating prosecutions and he has appeared on TV shows such as : Dateline NBC, 48 Hours, America's Most Wanted, Cheating Las Vegas, Cheaters Beware, Prime time, History Of Las Vegas, Modern Marvels: Las Vegas and many others. He created the first video series exposing the secrets of card and dice cheats and is the president of Worldwide Casino Consulting, Inc. which provides training for casino and gambling security personnel around the world. His latest work is the book titled Poker Cheating

This week's broadcast includes TWO great guests.

DAVID G. SCHWARTZ, (no relation to your host, Howard Schwartz) is the head of the Gaming Studies Department at UNLV. He is the author of
"Suburban Xanadu: The Casino Resort on the Las Vegas Strip", a book-length, essay on the history and evolution of the Las Vegas experience from its earliest days to the the advent of the mega resort. His second book, "Cutting the Wire", examines the political, social, and cultural ideas that moved Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to suggest the Wire Act (a law banning interstate transmission of gambling information), Congress to approve it, and President Kennedy to sign it into law, as well as the consequences of the law. He covers it all -- how this law first developed, how it helped fight a war against organized crime, and how it is being used today to restrict Americans from internet gambling. His latest work is titled "Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling ", which explains how the need to gamble shaped human history from the Ice Age to the Information Age when people spend nearly one trillion dollars worldwide on gambling a year.

BRAD LEWIS is the author of the Hollywood Celebrity Gangster: Mickey Cohen. All the whispered anecdotes, the news items and the underside of the crime rackets where Mickey operated are in his book, open to scrutiny. From Bugsy Siegel to Lucky Luciano and Albert Anastasia to Meyer Lansky and Carlos Marcello, Mickey knew them well and worked closely with them for many years.

Howard Schwartz & acclaimed writer Richard Eng discuss various aspects of horse racing in advance of this weekend's Breeder's Cup. Horses to follow, betting strategies, and factors that may affect the races are all covered. For the newest books on thoroughbreds, visit www.GamblersBook.com

In this pod cast, Howard will be talking about the new books that have arrived at The Gamblers Book Shopin the last week. or two. There will be information on books about to be released and Howard will discuss various books of fiction, about gambling and why the writing of this type of fiction is so hard to do well.Howard will have a short discussion on a new book or manual on baseball and sports betting that he feels may be the most important book of its type for the serious gambler who is into math and stats.Howard will also announce a visit to the store by a author and his new book on the Mafia, Hollywood and Las Vegas,

Today Howard will be talking to Lem Banker, author and sports betting expert. After the talk Howard will discuss some items that may be of intrest listeners.  LEM BANKER'S BOOK OF SPORTS BETTING
by Banker, Lem & Fred Klein
This book has been out of print for more than 15 years but it's so legendary that people have been willing to pay $50 or more for a copy of it . Now, it is available in reprint form. Banker, a veteran of more than 40 years in sports betting, was co-authored by Fred Klein. The broke the topic into eight major sections and focused on betting football, basketball, baseball and boxing. Banker discusses what it was like to be betting in the pre-computer days and how information was gathered, evaluated and bet on. He explains why a professional gambler cannot afford to be a fan. His insights on why it's important to know how to watch a game or event on television is crucial, as are his views on handicapping services, his reasoning for when to be early or late and his insight into fixed games. Certainly the art of handicapping and where to get a big bet down has changed in the past two decades, but reading Banker's book is both a how-to bet and a history lesson, a lot of it covering how to survive; how to manage your money and understanding how tough it is to sustain a winning percentage and make a living over the long run. A whole generation has missed this wonderful book. It's now available for the first time in years. You'll like it, because it imparts knowledge and it makes good sense, to learn from a very classy guy. 182 pages, plastic spiral bound, January 2004

On today’s Pod cast Howard will be talking about some new books that have just arrived at “The Gamblers Book Shop”. Howard will also be talking about other items that may be of interest. There are no guests for this show but there is a new trivia question for all.

Howard talks to Paul Magreil, author, world champion backgammon player, and world class poker player. Known as X-22 on the backgammon circuit, Magriel has arguably won more major backgammon tournaments than any other player in the world. He is widely considered the world's premier backgammon teacher, an original and clear-thinking theorist and one of its best players. The sobriquet X-22 originates from Magriel's simulation of a real backgammon tournament (compare simultaneous exhibition in chess) with many boards, designated X-1, X-2, X-3, etc. The player "X-22" won. Magriel first came into prominence on the backgammon circuit when he won the World Backgammon Championship in 1978. From 1977 to 1980, he wrote weekly backgammon columns for the The New York Times. Magriel had several notable finishes in poker tournaments from the mid-1990s in Europe, playing in London, Paris and Vienna in Omaha, hold'em and seven-card stud events. He won the €2,000 no limit hold'em event at the Aviation Club de France in September 2002, defeating a field including Pascal "Triple P" Perrault, Patrick Bruel and Simon "Aces" Trumper on the way to the €48,600 first prize. In March 2003 he made his first World Poker Tour (WPT) final table, finishing 4th in the $5,000 no limit hold'em World Poker Challenge event in Reno, Nevada. Magriel has since finished in the money three times at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), and has made the final table of events on the Professional Poker Tour and Ultimate Poker Challenge.

In this episode, Howard interviews first time author and 50 year veteran poker player, Sam O'Connor. Sam is known in poker circles as "Silver Dollar Sam". Sam will tell about his book, his life in poker and a recent Hollywood movie on gambling he appeared in. Howard will also talk about Sports Betting and give some information on 3 books that would be helpful to Sport Bettors.

In episode 1 Howard Schwartz, owner of the Gambler's Book show, will talk about the 40-year history of store (also known as "Gambler's Book Club Press") and will speak of his 28+ years serving the Gambling Community.