Buy a gambling-related book as a holiday gift, stocking stuffer

Depending on their taste or enthusiasm for a particular form of gambling, your friends and/or family members might appreciate a good book as the perfect holiday gift. Here are a few suggestions with a thumbnail description of each to help guide you:

The Ultimate Video Poker Pocket Book by Chris Newman (177 pages, paperbound, $19.99). This 2009 pocket-sized book offers strategy charts for 16 of the more popular games, including White Hot Aces; All American; Joker Poker; Deuces Wild; Loose Deuces Wild and Pick'em Poker.

Cluster Keno by L.J. Zahm (55 pages, 8x11 plastic spiralbound, $20). This third edition, subtitled "A Guide to Winning at Video Keno," includes stories, charts, tables, illustrations to guide the player to help make the game more fun and hopefully, profitable.

The Official U.S. Casino Chip Price Guide by James Campiglia and Steve Wells (4th Edition) (398 pages, paperbound, $39.99). This beautifully illustrated book has more than 12,000 chips in color with descriptions, values in various price grades. It's perfect for the collector-investor-bargain hunter. Covers Nevada, Colorado, Atlantic City, Deadwood and Riverboat states.

The Godfather of Poker by Doyle Brunson and Mike Cochran (384 pages, hardbound, $26.95). One of the great poker biographies, illustrated, indexed, Brunson's early health crises, colorful, inspiring life is packed with advice about winning, playing, surviving.

Cowboys Full (The Story of Poker) by James McManus (516 pages, hardbound, $30). Stories and history of America's Game from its earliest beginnings to the evolution of the game covering the Old West, riverboat gambling, hold'em, tournament play, presidents and military play. Great reference source, indexed, packed with research sources. Destined to an all-time great resource for future generations. The author also penned Positively Fifth Street.

All books reviewed in this article are available from Gambler's Book Shop (Gambler's Book Club), located at 630 South 11th Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101. Order using a MasterCard, VISA or Discover card (no American Express or CODs please) via the store's toll-free number 1-800-522-1777 any day except Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time. You may order from the store's web site at www.gamblersbook.com anytime, using the credit cards indicated. Books usually shipped the next working day. The store has an 80-page catalog listing 1,000 other books, videos and computer software in 30 other areas of gambling. You may receive a free copy by requesting one by phone or from the web site or by writing, or view it in its entirety at the web site. When in Las Vegas, visit the store, which also has thousands of used books. The store is a mile from downtown, a block west of Maryland Parkway, just off Charleston Boulevard at South 11th Street. This is the store's 39th year of operation.

Gaming Guru

Buy a gambling-related book as a holiday gift, stocking stuffer

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