KISS Guide to Gambling [Paperback]

John Marchel (Author)

Book Description

Series: Keep It Simple Series | Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Kiss the competition goodbye! Learn to raise your game with DK's KISS Guide to Gambling. Find out all about the history and origins of gambling. Develop your skills in top casino games, including blackjack, bingo, keno, and roulette. Learn how the rules and regulations vary internationally. Pick up tips on etiquette, insurance, and winning strategies for various games. Master the secrets of picking the games with the best odds. Discover how to minimize your losses and maintain winning streaks. The Keep It Simple Series is the new standard in how-to books! Written by leading experts, each book includes full-color photographs and illustrations throughout, making these the first and only truly accessible guides for beginners. The KISS format is designed to help readers build confidence from the start, and learn gradually and thoroughly to the very last page. Much more than introductions to various subjects, these inspiring and innovative books are the ones that readers can trust!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Marchel, owner of John Marchel Enterprises in California, has been a successful gambler for over 25 years. John has played winning blackjack in Europe, Panama, the Bahamas, Canada, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Reno, at the Indian reservations, and on cruise ships. Since 1988, he has combined his vast experience as a manager, teacher, and player to present seminars and lectures about winning blackjack throughout the US. He publishes The Gaming Bulletin, a bimonthly newsletter, and is also the author of 101 Casino Gambling Tips (1998). John claims he is really a "blackjack practitioner", which he defines as "someone who plays the game with the skills of a professional but does not derive his primary income from blackjack or gambling. A serious player." Lance Humble is recognized as the world's top academic authority on gambling. A university professor who teaches courses in gambling and psychological measurement, he is also a part-time professional gambler who has won in excess of $80,000. Humble is a racehorse owner, a writer on gambling, a research psychologist, an instructor, an educator, and an independent entrepreneur. He is also a gambling system tester for betting games of all sorts, from soccer to horse racing. The author of The World's Greatest Blackjack Book and a member of many professional organizations including The British Society for the Study of Gambling and the American Psychological Association, he would one day like to establish a Gambling Research Institute.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; 1st edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789480514
• ISBN-13: 978-0789480514
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,816,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Marchel
Author, speaker, teacher, and player

As a professional speaker, and author John Marchel is able to use his experiences and incorporate them into presentations about the exciting world of casino gambling.

John has gambled successfully throughout the world for over 25 years. He has played in Europe, Central America, the Caribbean, Canada, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Reno, on Indian reservations, cruise ships and in over 350 different casinos throughout the United States. John is also a graduate of Richard Canfield's Expert school of Blackjack and Frank Scoblete's Golden Touch Blackjack School; where later he was an instructor.

Since 1988 he has combined his vast experiences to present winning gambling seminars and lectures throughout the United States. Hundreds of students all across the country have learned to be successful at the casino by attending John's seminars. In addition, John has had a site on the World Wide Web since 1995. The site has many gambling products and services that John provides along with gaming tips and a quiz for blackjack players to evaluate their skill and knowledge. John also publishes The Gaming Bulletin, a monthly e-mail newsletter about casino gambling.

In 1998, John wrote his first book, 101 Casino Gambling Tips. This book presents casino gambling tips for both the novice as well as for the seasoned player. His book list tips the professionals know and use about blackjack, slots, craps, roulette, keno and even bingo. This is a fun, interesting and educational book on casino gambling.

John's latest book, K.I.S.S. Guide to Gambling, published by Dorling Kindersley Publishing of New York, covers all the who, what, when, where and why of gambling. Any player regardless of game or skill can use this 352-page full color illustrated book. To date 80,000 copies have been sold worldwide. He has also written workbooks and special reports about gambling including a Haiku poem gambling book.

John has written numerous gambling articles for various magazines including Casino Player, Strictly Slots, Midwest Gaming, Southern Gaming and Casino City Times on the Internet. He is currently a columnist for three monthly gambling magazines.

John was born in New York City and has traveled throughout the world and now makes his home in Northern California. John continues to be an active and regular visitor to the gaming casinos. He claims he is really a "Blackjack Practitioner" which he defines as: "someone who plays the game with the skills of a professional, but does not derive his primary income from blackjack or from gambling."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Pictures give this book an edge over all the others, March 14, 2007

By 

All Spice (Framingham, MA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: KISS Guide to Gambling (Paperback)

I love to gamble and this book has been great for learning new games I would never, ever have had the guts to try. Sitting at slots all day just doesn't cut it anymore, plus it is way, way too expensive (that's why casinos love slots!). This book has pictures of actual table games along with clear descriptions of how to play, the best bets to make, the bets to avoid, and table etiquette. So, after reading a chapter about a particular game that looks fun to you, you can actually sit down at a table (pick a quiet one at first) and make some smart, easy bets. No more worrying about looking like a fool. If anything, you will be the one wondering how other people can be placing those stupid bets that have the highest edge for the casino instead of the player. This book makes it very clear which bets are good for you and which for the casino. This doesn't mean you will always win (there would be no casinos if this was the case), but you will be betting to improve your chances of winning instead of betting in ways to ensure you lose your money pronto. Plus, it has excellent advice on "bankroll" management, about how to make your money last and what not to do, like use your charge card to get more cash. Money management is just as important as learning the right bets, especially if you really like to gamble.

I have learned enough new games (craps, black jack, pai gow poker) so that there is always something to play depending on my mood (craps if I feel super-social, black jack if I want to intently focus, and pai gow to be a little more artsy). I plan on learning some more. I still like slots, but I am no longer limited. Tables just don't scare me anymore. Thank you so much KISS Guide!

2.0 out of 5 stars Read This Book and Lost Anyway, August 20, 2005

By 

John P Bernat (Kingsport, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: KISS Guide to Gambling (Paperback)

While I cannot point to any specific guarantees in this book, I still felt disappointed that I used various strategies they suggest and lost in Las Vegas. Thank goodness I followed at least one of their suggestions and set a gambling budget.

I managed to lose every nickel of it.

I guess if there was value in the book, I did not look like a total idiot playing table games in a casino.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great intro to the world of gambling, February 21, 2002

By 

"highrollerandbolwer" (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: KISS Guide to Gambling (Paperback)

Even though I'm not old enought to go to a casino, I probably know more about gambling than most people. This book is great because it introduces you to games you didn't know how to play, the odds of all the games, and lots of different strategies. There are over 120 bets on the craps table! Also it gives you insight to gambling in other countries and real advice from the author's personal experience. The author also provides you with lots of trivia you can amaze your friends with. Such as the most bingo cards played at one time was 346 when there were 30 second intervals between the calling of each number. If you want to learn a little about all the games, this book is for you, if you are an expert, you would still love the trivia! This is a must buy for everyone.