Here’s some pictures of the top poker prize: the WSOP Bracelet.
The History of Atlantic City
The author spends a considerable amount of time in Atlantic City. Here’s some history:
New York Daily News: The Real ‘Boardwalk Empire’: Atlantic City During Prohibition in the 1920’s
Atlantic County: Atlantic City’s First Boardwalk – June 1870
Atlantic City Free Public Library: Online Guide to Atlantic City Historical Markers
Atlantic City Free Public Library: The History of Atlantic City
The New Yorker: The Death and Life of Atlantic City
How A Casino Works
You’ve seen casinos in the movies: mob-run joints with tough pit bosses, friendly dealers and attractive waitresses serving drinks. But how does an actual casino operate? Who runs the floor? How do they catch cheaters? How do they make money? How far back do casinos go in history? Check out this article to find out:
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/casino.htm
Also in that link is a link to a podcast called “Stuff You Should Know” that goes into how online gambling works
Superstition
To give you an idea about how weird professional gamblers really are, take a look at some of these articles about some of the ways they try to harness luck. From lucky oranges to dropping candy, unlit cigarettes, and sitting against the grain, there’s just something entertaining and strange about how gamblers get luck.
Online Poker Lowdown – Poker Superstitions
Gambler.org – Very Superstitious: Researchers Say Myth of the Lucky Gambler Lives On
VegasMaster.com – Get Lucky With Gambling Superstitions
Poker Slang
If you’re looking for a reference for terms like “Pocket Jacks” or “splash the pot”, here is a link to popular poker slang. The terms are alphabetical for quick use.
Winning Statistics
For those of you curious what a professional poker player can make on a World Series of Poker tour, here’s 2016’s numbers of top winners take-home: http://www.wsop.com/players/stats/byyear/
There is also the option for “All Time” to see the most made in a professional gambling career, in case you want to rethink all of your life decisions.
Texas Hold ‘Em
For those of you whose card game knowledge starts with Go Fish and ends with Old Maid, here’s a tutorial about the rules of Texas Hold ‘Em, one of the world’s most popular gambling card games.
Colson Whitehead Interview
As always, your monthly author interview. NPR interviewed Whitehead in 2015
June’s Book: The Noble Hustle
This month’s book is The Noble Hustle by Colson Whitehead. Our discussion of the book will be June 26th in the 3rd floor board room as usual. If you need a copy or have a friend who wants to join the group, there are copies of the book to be checked out at the Circulation Desk.
