This one-volume reference provides a comprehensive overview of gambling in the Americas, examining the history, morality, market growth, and economics of the gaming industry. This is the most complete encyclopedia of gambling, covering the industry in great detail including the players, the games, the venues, and the surrounding social issues. Updates in this second edition reveal the impact of technological advances on the games, the growing legislation regulating the industry, and the expanding global footprint of gambling across the world—from Manitoba to Montana. Author William N. Thompson postulates on the impact of gambling on local communities and shows how the U.S. gaming industry is tied to the global market, most notably gaming expansion in Macau and Singapore. The book addresses the various forms of gaming, such as casino-based and online gambling, sports betting, and lotteries. Additional content examines the social issue of problem and pathological gambling and addresses the rehabilitation programs available for the mitigation and treatment of gambling problems.

Provides information on gambling for sport and for profit, defines the games and their variations, and discusses the most common forms of cheating

The most complete single-source collection on gambling ever assembled gives readers access to the best possible information about one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The International Encyclopedia of Gambling seeks to explain the gambling phenomenon through an in-depth exploration of gambling operations around the world. More than 300 entries reflect the global stretch of the industry as they examine games, venues, players and other leading figures, legal issues, the history of gaming, and the literature on the subject. The work is enhanced with a dozen contributed articles on gambling-related topics, including commentaries on the history and growth of Las Vegas and a description of major law cases involving gambling. Coverage includes Internet gambling and a section incorporating reviews of more than 50 films about gambling.

From Atari to Sega, from Apple to Nintendo DS, this full colour book takes not a regional, or European, but a global view on 33 years of onscreen fun and interaction and presents hardware from Japan, USA, UK, France, Germany and Korea, along with classic software in its authentic, pixellated glory. Including over 600 pictures, exclusively shot for Game.Machines, the book contains extensive indices, as well as 20 pages of technical data and explanations. This greatly enhanced and revised edition provides a time journey across the video game era: from the 4-bit beginnings to the broadband future. More than 400 dream machines and million sellers, bizarre slip-ups and exotic variants are profiled in full colour chapters with extensive appendixes.

Arcade video games have become one of the hottest collectibles around and this book features over 600 photos of the machines that filled arcades during the 1970s and '80s. Includes information about the manufacturers who produced these classic games, a section about video game collectibles, and information on how to start your own collection. Beginning collectors and long-time game enthusiasts alike are sure to enjoy this nostalgic and informative look at the world of arcade video games.

"Whether you invite friends over for a couple of rounds of Ace-duce-jack or organize a family night with the kids to play Slapjack, you're in for a good time with this huge collection of cards games. A cross-referenced index makes it easy to find a game by name, number of players, or type (general, gambling, solitaire, children's), while easy-to-understand rules and strategies make getting started a breeze. Here's one encyclopedia that's packed with great entertainment!"--Back cover

Read this book—and we bet that the cash you save in just one trip to the casino will more than make up for its cost! Simply put, this is the best guide to gambling ever written. It reveals the secrets of success known only to the most expert gamblers: how to bet smart, play the cards right, recognize when the odds are in your favor, and walk away a winner. You'll learn about beating the bank with odds and probability, “the house edge,” money management, and the psychology of gambling. Here's all the info you need to play each game like a genius!

“If you didn’t grow up with an SNES and are curious to know about games like Chrono Trigger, Super Metroid and more, then this is the book for you.” —Got Game Following on from the previously released NES Encyclopedia, The SNES Encyclopedia is the ultimate resource for fans of Nintendo’s second home video game console, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Containing detailed information on all 780 games released for the SNES in the west, this enormous book is full of screenshots, trivia and charmingly bad jokes. It also includes a bonus section covering the entire twenty-two-game library of the Virtual Boy, Nintendo’s ill-fated 3D system which was released at the end of the SNES’s life. “Without question, The SNES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System makes for an excellent video game library addition. It’s an economical and well-crafted book of Nintendo’s 16-bit history, and it’s sure to leave you yearning for the days of Super Mario World’s vibrant colors, Super Metroid’s intoxicating atmosphere, and Super Punch Out!!’s incredible tension. If you already own The NES Encyclopedia, you’ll know what to expect, but if you’re just starting a collection of video game-themed books, you can’t go wrong with this condense and informative offering.” —Nintendo World Report