- ISBN13: 9781569762479
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
During the course of 30 days in early 2009, Richard Roeper risked more than a quarter million dollars on practically every method of gambling currently available in America. Chronicling his wild ride in a breezy, humorous manner, this entertaining exploration both celebrates and details the many pitfalls and lures through Roeper’s stories about his lifelong affair with gambling. With insight and aplomb, the narrative answers the questions What is it like to bet mon… More >>
Bet the House: How I Gambled Over a Grand a Day for 30 Days on Sports, Poker, and Games of Chance
Tags: aplomb, Chance, Days, Gambled, Games, games of chance, Grand, House, humorous manner, lifelong affair, Over, pitfalls, Poker, remainder mark, richard roeper, sports, wild ride
#1 by mman on April 12, 2010 - 7:23 am
This book was an easy read and somewhat entertaining, but it ultimately lacked any real substance, suspense, or drama.
Rating: 2 / 5
#2 by Anthony Ian on April 12, 2010 - 9:51 am
I know very little about gambling, except that I like to casually play Texas hold ‘em or blackjack. So the first challenge to an author with a book like this is: can you make it interesting to what we call in my biz “non-category” readers? Is it appealing to the layperson, who doesn’t know what “the vig” means or has no idea what the odds are on one casino game versus another, and doesn’t care?
The answer: mission totally accomplished. Just as Scorcese’s “Casino” served as an insider’s look into Vegas then while following a human story narrative, this book makes you feels as though you’ve suddenly been dropped into the middle of the whole gambling world as a fly on the wall. You’ll learn the language, what bookies actually do, what they DON’T do, what requires skill and what is really just a scam. Not surprisingly, lottery tickets are probably the biggest sucker’s bet of all time–and ironically they’re the most legal form of gambling, a theme which is touched on repeatedly throughout the book.
You’ll get a sense of what it’s like to have money riding on sports bets, horse racing, dog racing (which, as described, is eerily depressing, like a scene out of “No Country for Old Men.”), the stock market, and, literally, simply flipping a coin one hundred times at a bar–among others.
Even with all the gambling setups and jargon, biographical details of Roeper’s life manage to keep bubbling up at various points, including a horrific Vegas-set breakup story that may hit home to many.
Lest I paint this book too darkly, I read it in one sitting and I can’t tell you how many LOL moments and characters appear–using VERY colorful language–which bring levity to the task at hand: risking at least $1,000/day on a bet of some sort. I won’t tell what the final over/under was, but I can recommend this is a wildly entertaining read that you’ll think about for some time afterward.
The other interesting subtext–which I’ll leave to others to debate, but he gives mention–is: is what’s being described merely a passion for gambling, or an addiction?
Rating: 4 / 5
#3 by D. Barbour on April 12, 2010 - 11:45 am
If you don’t like to gamble, this is not a book for you. That being said, if you know what it’s like to feel the rush of playing poker, the thrill of blackjack, or even the absurd joy in getting a bonus round in slots, this book will keep your turning the pages at a rapid pace. Movie critic Richard Roeper goes all Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) on the world of gambling. It’s a 30 day experiment of sorts into the art of all types of ways to risk your hard earned dollars – not just casino games mind you – everything from scratch tickets to horse and dog racing are covered in the 260 pages. He is able to capture the “rush” feeling, and spend more money than most common recreational gamers would ever dare bet – but would love to given the financial liberty. It may not be the most eloquently written or perfectly structured depiction, but it gets the perfect rating from me for doing exactly what it promises to on the inside flap, and much more. From the list of the top ten gambling movies, to a mysterious dream scenario, to playing next to the likes of the major pros, gamblers of all types and bet sizes will enjoy this book.
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by James Alexander on April 12, 2010 - 1:18 pm
You won’t be gambling on this book – it’s a winner. Roeper’s easy read style and outrageous story will lasso your interest. If you love sports betting and gambling in general it is a must-read.
James Alexander
Rating: 4 / 5