Gambling History

The pro football season of 1963 was dominated by the unexpected. In April, months prior to the beginning of play, it was revealed that two All-Star players, Paul Hornung and Alex Karras, were gambling on the sport and would be suspended from play for at least a year. Even worse, in May, one of the league’s bigger-than-life personalities, Big Daddy Lipscomb, was found dead, with police saying he perished from a heroin overdose, something those who knew him best still dispute.

Uncover the thrilling history and psychology of risk, exploring why humanity constantly wagers its future on pure chance. Whether you are navigating a daily commute or seeking a captivating intellectual deep-dive, this fast-paced narrative transports you from ancient rituals of divination to the...

Master the psychology of risk through the thrilling history of gambling, from lawless riverboats to digital casinos. Perfect for an immersive commute, this high-stakes journey reveals how a rough saloon pastime evolved into a global test of strategy and nerve. Whether you are unwinding on the...

'A must-read for anyone who's doubted Pep's influence, from handing the power to Barça's homegrown crop to never betraying his childhood romanticism of the game Four Four Two 'Balague's insightful biography presents Guardiola as a relentless perfectionist - a man obsessed with the minutiae of...

My name is Drood, Eddie Drood, but I should probably change that. My family has cast me out, but that doesn't mean the fight is over. Unfortunately, Eddie's had a falling out with his nearest and dearest - some of whom were trying to kill him, so he has a valid excuse. Now, he and his true love...

“A house of wonders itself. . . . Wonderland inspires grins and well-what-d'ya-knows” —The New York Times Book Review From the New York Times–bestselling author of How We Got to Now and Extra Life, a look at the world-changing innovations we made while keeping ourselves entertained. This...

Decode the behavioral psychology of risk to understand the intoxicating rush and devastating fall of high-stakes betting. From ancient dice games to frictionless mobile apps, this immersive social history reveals the hidden mechanics of probability that dictate who wins and who loses everything...

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Prometheus comes the first effort to set the Cuban Missile Crisis, with its potential for nuclear holocaust, in a wider historical narrative of the Cold War—how such a crisis arose, and why at the very last possible moment it didn't happen. In...

'ABSORBING' Guardian 'ENTHRALLING' New Statesman 'EPIC' Evening Standard 'INESCAPABLE' The Sunday Times 'MAGISTERIAL' Irish Examiner Fully revised and updated, the definitive history of Argentinian football from the award-winning author of Inverting the Pyramid Alfredo Di Stefano, Diego Maradona...

Gambling captures as nothing else the drama of the "long eighteenth century" between the age of religious wars and the age of revolutions. The society that was confronted with games of chance pursued as commercial ventures also came to grips with unprecedented social mobility, floated by new wealth from new sources created fortunes from trade in sugar, cotton, ivory, silk, tea, or enslaved human beings. The Gambling Century focuses like no previous work on those who enabled, facilitated, and profited from gambling, as well as on efforts to regulate or outlaw it.

Uncover a sweeping cultural history of global power by following the hidden past of an everyday game of chance. From ancient desert caravans to glittering modern casinos, these painted slips of paper became a universal language of risk and imagination. This evocative journey transforms a...

Step onto the racetrack and feel the high-stakes thrill of equestrian sports and the global betting economy. Perfect for an energizing morning commute, this fast-paced history plunges you directly into the sights, sounds, and pulse-pounding drama of race day. Whether you are a casual spectator...

Uncover the sweeping Asian history and geopolitical drama that transformed a fragile trading post into a casino empire. Perfect for your morning commute or focused learning sessions, this immersive narrative transports you directly to the Pearl River Delta. Experience five centuries of cultural...

Trace the gritty American history of how a harsh desert crossroads became an empire of gambling and mob ambition. Perfect for an engaging daily commute, this fast-paced urban history reveals the audacious gambles that birthed a modern tourist mecca. Where early speculators saw extreme risk, they...

Brought to you by Penguin. When gambler and failed magician Valen Quinol is given the opportunity to play in the Forbearance Game-the invitation-only game where players gamble with secrets-he can't resist. Or refuse, as it turns out... Wedged between the empires of Cadogna and L'Ombre, tiny...

Trent came to Idaho seeking solitude. He built a cabin, broke a few wild horses, and quietly put his past behind him. Then King Bill Hale began laying claim to all the land around Cedar Bluff. When Hale’s son kills one of Trent’s neighbors, Trent quickly steps forward to lead the fight...

Over half of the population gambles in the UK every year. How did we get here? What keeps us hooked when the odds are so heavily stacked against us? And who are the real winners and losers? Jackpot dives deep into gambling's seedy underbelly to answer these questions, and many more. From the first National Lottery draw in 1569 to the Wild West of today's online casinos, Guardian reporter Rob Davies follows the money to show who profits—and at what cost.

Named one of the most anticipated nonfiction books of 2026 by The New York Times Book Review The definitive, colorful history of American sports betting that challenges the dialogue around one of our country’s fastest growing (and most controversial) industries. Taking listeners on a...