Comped [Paperback]

Bill Kearney (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The price you pay when living it up and doubling down in Atlantic City.This book is a must read for any one who has a family member or friend being "comped" in the casinos. The author, in his main character Richie V., will take you on a roller coaster ride of a lifetime as he reveals his short-lived High Roller adventures in the casinos of Atlantic City. From his first room being "comped" to the limos, helicopters, and lavish penthouse suite's that the casinos provide as they cultivate their mark.

From the Author

In the early '80s at the age of 32, I walked through the elegant brass and glass arched doors of what was once known as the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino. Within a few months, I walked through every casino door Atlantic City had to offer and was considered (Especially in my own head) a "High Roller." The title lasted less than 7 months, leaving me to fight through what I call today, "The Casino Wars." For over fifteen years I have been doing thorough research on all books written about casino gambling. From the how-to-win books, books on how the casinos operate, and the few and far between horror stories written about the darker side of Atlantic City and Las Vegas. In all these years, I have yet to come across one book, newspaper article, investigating report or movie that has told the true story. Comped is based on a true story. I have written as fiction because I know if I would have written it in nonfiction, the casino industry would go to the farthest means in order to stop its publication. That may sound like a robust claim, but after you read Comped, you will understand why.

Product Details

• Paperback: 447 pages
• Publisher: Ian Scott Press (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970834403
• ISBN-13: 978-0970834409
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,109,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So you want to be a High Roller?, May 22, 2002

By 

Lorenzo S (Miami Beach, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comped (Paperback)

After reading this book,you'll think twice about that. It's been a longtime sence a book really got to me! I was flying with the highs and crashing with the lows. It's a modern-day, David and Goliath story, only in this one , Dave runs out of chips. I would highly recommend this book to all those knuckleheads who write books on how to beat the casinos, and those who live in states where your politicians are pushing to legalize casino gambling.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So-so, August 29, 2002

By 

S. Sassoon "stefNfloyd" (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Comped (Paperback)

I'm on the fence with this one...

The gambling action is fantastic: descriptions of the highs and lows are very good, true to their volitile and destructive form, and are finally, very authentic. A very insightful and unencumbered perspective into pathological gambling is offered from a very interesting angle. Maybe it's the Atlantic City 'patois', but I wasn't too impressed with the dialog -- it was a little over-the-top, and more testosterone-driven than what I'd expected - certainly from what I've seen personally from the `regulars' of the high limit gaming areas. At times, it felt like "The Fast and the Furious" meets "The Gambler".

Atypical of your textbook pathological gambler, who is normally very reserved and diminutive in nature, the main character acts a little outside the profile of what I think is consistent with such a character. I have a slight issue with the title, but I can occasionally see the argument for it, and thus overlook it. The book improves considerably towards the end, picking up manic rhythm and interest just as the pathology is in full bloom. The last chapters are wonderful! Overall, I would offer this book as an interesting read and recommend it.

So, I guess I'm on the "buy it anyway" side of the fence. There aren't many books like it, and if you're into gambling literature, it's certainly worth its place in your collection. BUT NOTE: I didn't get my copy of the book from Amazon; however, if it's the same, be weary of the pages falling out once they're turned over. Quality of the physical publication isn't very strong.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating story, May 17, 2002

By 

t. cattani (hamilton, nj) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comped (Paperback)

Could not put this book down. Very well written and the story is very interesting from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book. This is a story many people can relate to.