Best books (literature) on sports betting...?

Has anyone here read any good books on sports betting? Basics, advanced, sport specific or general? I ve browsing through amazon and i ve spotted a few that i was thinking of buying, reading books on a topic of interest has always been a great help for me, because, even if a know a point the writer is making it always helps to drive it home with more force and clarity in my mind, once i ve read someone else on it.

So, any ideas?

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The wizard of odds. written by Charles Rosen.

It's a biography of Jack Molinas,a very interesting cat who fixed college hoops games
for many years in 50's,60's.You wouldn't need
to be a gambler to enjoy this book.jack was
also an ivy league grad,pro hoops player,bookie,
loanshark etc.

Ciao from Maria,who will think of other interesting books for you to read. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

not sure if you have read this one but
Spread Betting to win by Jacques Black is
the absolute best.

He has a more recent one called
"Football betting to win" that i haven't read
yet.That's soccer/euro football,not american
football.maybe you can order it,and tell me
if it would be worthwhile for moi to do so.

Ciao from maria,who will perhaps amend this
post.
here's a link to the "football betting to win"
book. www.gamblingbooks.co.uk/bookshop/titleinfo.php?item=1514

maria, thanks a lot for that info, i ve spotted that bookshop you are linking but did not find anymore books than i did in say amazon, in any case, for a young russian girl you seem to know your betting shit, but then again, it's all vodka and mafia and havoc right now in russia and kids smarten up and get streetwise at a young age. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

ever heard of Bob McCune maria, are his books or capping any good?

Bob McCune's books are a little dated, but among the best out there. The key for anyone trying to learn with books is not to get involved in books that try to give a lot of real life examples. Books that teach theory and force your mind to think about your own examples are the best. Ones that give simple formulas and try to tie everything in tend not to work too well because you just learn to look for games like the examples instead of really thinking about the problems that handicapping force you to solve.

I don't know your level of skill or experience, but once you get to being a mid-level or higher bettor, you will probably find that books NOT about sports betting are great for your library. I read or at least browse a lot of books about day trading and investing, not so much for me to day trade, but for me to get a better sense of how to think about issues such as money management and keeping your psychological wits during hot and cold streaks. Most people need to get to a higher level to see and understand how sports handicapping is really about things you don't think its about when you first start out betting. You will go through a lot of steps, the whole learning the game part, but in the end you will find yourself at this stage where you will focus more on the psychological and market aspects of the game, not the aspect of can the Knicks beat the Warriors by 5 or more.

Bob wrote several books. Probably the best three of the group are the last three he did. These three books work with narrative mini-lessons, each of which makes a point of logic, insight, or common sense related to sports betting.

The three books are:

Revelations in Sports Betting. This was Bob's last book, one I wrote three chapters for.

Education of a Sports Bettor: Probably his best book.

Insights into Sports Betting.

You can order any of these online at Gambler's Book Shop at http://www.gamblersbook.com

bill, butch, thanks for the responses guys, sometimes it seems not enough people are very interested in the crux of the matter, handicapping, so your opinions are greatly appreciated.

bill, i think i know what you mean man. As for markets and psychological factors go, i presume you are refering to finding niches in markets with line movements according to public psychology and preferences and taking advantage of that, among other things...

Sports Betting by Jerry Patterson. It covers all four sports, college's and pro's. It's the best book out there. Period!! It was written in the 80's but is still very, very useful. I still use ideas from it.

i might also recommend "sharp sportsbetting"
by stanford wong.Not anything on "soccer' but
excellent in regard to the "maths" of sportsbetting.
You know,there is a guy over at
www.sharpsportsbetting.com with the nick
"doxras",who is from Greece as well.you can
find him in the "other sports" forum at that
site from time -to time.

If your looking for a place that has a
good catalog of books on gambling,try this one
www.gamblersbookclub.com

Ciao from Maria,not enough time for the
intertoto write-ups today i'm afraid /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Beat the Sports Books - An Insider’s Guide to Betting the NFL by Dan Gordon

This book goes into the exact methodology of a winning handicapper. I have followed Dan's picks and for the last 3 years he has won at a rate of 59.27% using the methodology described in the book.

Good Luck,
Bart

thanks a lot guys. maria, i ve heard of wong's book, i may give it a try, it's way too hot here in greece and i could use some interesting reading in between the work and the siesta's.

By all means check out some of the books recommended above.

But for a complete introduction to sports betting, I strongly recommend Roxie's sports book management book. Always good to understand where your man is coming from.

Here's the blurb from Gambler's Book Club site--


SPORTS BOOK MANAGEMENT
by Michael Roxborough & Mike Rhoden
Order 680013 $35.00.
Completely revised in '98, this is the most important book ever written for the person planning to enter legalized sports and race book management in Nevada. Covers accepting bets on all major sports plus boxing. Valuable for anyone researching the subject or seeking a source of understanding the variety of bets available, including parlay cards (with new revised additions), future wagers, linemaking theory, house rules, terminology, payoffs, percentages and prices, proposition bets and taxes on wagering. Includes a most-sought-after table: how to explain and understand the NFL Money Line to Pointspread Correlation. If you plan on beginning a career in a sports book, this is must- reading. 128 pages, paperbound. 1998.

that one seems very interesting, always wanted to get the man's view of the matter, was recommended a book on the matter a few weeks ago, supposedly by an ex-bookie, insider tell all kind of thing, but browsing through i found the whole book kinda of frivolous and uninformative and gave it a pass.

Hmmm, i'll be doing some reading in the weeks to come, and like they say the more you know the less you know you know and the more questions you got, so i ll be pretty much intolerable in the coming months to other forum members with all my question threads...lol.

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In 1983, PBS did a "Frontline" story on the NFL entitled, "An Unauthorized History of the NFL."

Publication: WGBH Educational Foundation
Boston, MA
PBS Frontline #101
1983
Hosted by Jessica Savage

Good luck trying to view this; I have been searching for a copy for years.

Anyway, An Unauthorized History of the NFL is a MUST SEE for the sports gambling enthusiast providing much insight into the history of NFL and its association with the gambling and underground worlds. Revealing individuals such as NFL owners, coaches, players, casinos, syndicate members historically linked with NFL game fixing as well as other dubious dealings. An Unauthorized History of the NFL also interviews a criminal affiliate who details how 4 NFL games were fixed in each of the 1968, 1969 and 1970 seasons including details of which team associates were vital to the fixing of games, how their pay structure was devised as well as how payments were delivered…the essential workings of the fix.

I am sure some syndicate probably purchased the rights from PBS years ago.

Additional recommended viewings...

The movie “Casino” as well as the video series “The History of Las Vegas” links many of the specific syndicated members who directly or indirectly have played rolls in this game within the game. Both highly recommended viewings along with "An unauthorized history of the NFL."

For example, in the 1995 Martin Scorsese movie Casino, Star Dust casino manager Allen Glick (portrayed by Kevin Pollak) had Real Estate ties with California Real Estate agent Tamaro Morane as well as Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis (not divulged by the movie). When Morane felt she was being swindled by Real Estate deals involving Glick, she threatened to expose damaging information about Glick to the FBI. As the story goes, the Chicago Crime family which controlled the Star Dust through their front man Glick did not want to see him (Glick) become publicly “dirtied” by this potentially incriminating information which threaten or revoke his casino operating license thus, the family commissioned four .22 caliber silencing pills to be inserted into the mouth and ear of Morane. A scene depicted in the movie Casino. Real Estate investments have long been a (suspected) way for the syndicate to “laundry” their gambling revenues into legitimacy. Allen Glick once offered Al Davis a 25% stake in a 25 million dollar Oakland, California shopping mall for $5000!

Did you know that the 1946 Chicago / New York Title Game revealed (prior to game) that a fix was attempted, and thus thwarted? Attempts were made to pay New York players…to lose? Reminds me of the movie Eight Men Out, which portrayed the 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal; another highly recommended movie viewing.

NFL Players such as Alex Karas, Paul Hornung, Joe Namath, John Hadel, Lance Alworth, Jake Scott, Craig Hartwig, Kenny Stabler, Dan Pastorini have all had syndicated affiliations, known gambling ties as well as suspected game fixing involvement. Coaches such as Frank Kush and Don Shula are also known to have had affiliations with syndicated criminal members.

Owners such as Carol Rosenblum, Art Modell, Eugene V. Klein, John Mecom Jr, Al Davis, Edward J. DeBartelo have all had known syndicated affiliations. Incidentally, Edward J. DeBartelo was denied a MLB ownership four times due to known criminal affiliations by commissioner Bowie Kuhn. However, the NFL gladly accepted DeBartelo’s first attempt to own an NFL franchise, the San Francisco 49ers, which he promptly gave to his son Edward J. DeBartelo Jr.

Boy how the Football and Baseball leagues have historically differed, when you consider that “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and Pete Rose have forever been inducted into Baseball’s hall of shame, while Lance Alworth (1978), Paul Hornung (1986), Joe Namath (1985), Don Shula (1997), Al Davis (1992), Pete Rozelle (1985), have all been inducted into football’s hall of fame!

Syndicated involvement is highly speculated in the April 1979 death of Los Angeles Ram team owner Carol Rosenblum who drowned while swimming in the ocean off his Florida home. A Montreal Canadian tourist (Raymond Tanjuay) witnessed the event, stating that two strange men carried the body of Rosenblem onto the beach front of his home before instructing Tanjuay to immediately leave while they evacuated the area. Tanjuay claims to have seen what appeared to be a scuba driver swimming from the seen. It is theorized that a scuba diver held the avid swimmer Rosenblum under until his lungs filled with the deadly H2O substance. Rosenblum was suspected of betting against his formally own team (Baltimore Colts) using an organized crime affiliate (Wiese) to carrier bets to Las Vegas. Two weeks following Rosenblum’s death Wiese was found poisoned by lead perforations to the cranium by the LAPD. Perhaps Rosenblum defaulted upon a large marker?

Former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle was hand picked by League Team Owners to commission NFL. Team Owners known to have associations with organized crime. When Rozelle was questioned by PBS’s Jessica Savage regarding allegations suspecting a long time history of NFL players, coaches, owners involvement with organized crime affiliates, gambling allegations and the fixing of NFL games, as well as his thoughts in allowing the FBI to assist the NFL in investigating such allegations, Rozelle replied that it was the policy of the NFL to handle such matters internally while discrediting any suggestions of FBI assistance.

For those seeking a humorous take on gambling, I highly recommend “The Deli” a movie which unfortunately has not been released (yet?) in DVD format.

You talking books? Well you've come to the right place, I got em all. I'll list my favorites in order of importance.

1.WIN MORE--LOSE LESS! by Don Peszynski
If you get no other book get this one, this guy is awesome. He's a retired finacial analyst and options trader who loves betting football. He covers every betting angle you can think of middles, hedges, teasers, parlays, totals, futures,etc. He explains everything with charts and the mathematics to back it up, and you can see how his financial expertise comes in handy. GET THIS BOOK!!!!

2.How Professional Gamblers BEAT THE PRO FOOTBALL POINTSPREAD. by J.R. Miller
This is another great book, Miller explains the different wagering types and the statistical explanation for making various plays. He has a strong chapter on money management where he critiques the kelly-criterion and other money management strategies.

3.Sharp Sports Betting. by Stanford Wong
Another book that breaks down the betting types parlays, teasers, totals and shows how to make the optimum bet. Wong illustrates and charts his plays nicely and supports his theories with the mathematics to back it up. Thought Wong was Asian but hes not,lol.

3.Sportsbetting. by John Patrick
Not as mathematically sound as the previous books but funny as hell. Patricks strong point however is getting you to change degenerate habits that cause you to lose in the long run. His mantra is always get a profit no matter how small.

4.COLLEGE FOOTBALL HANDICAPPING A PROFESSIONAL APPROACH. by Trace Fields
I have this at #4 but overall but for college football this is #1. Fields does'nt miss a trick, he breaks down fundamental,technical,and emotional handicapping. He also goes into offensive vs defensive style matchups,# of returning starters,coaching strategies and much more. If you do any college capping this book is a must.

5.THE ODDS. by Chad Millman
This is not a non-ficton book about 2 high-stakes gamblers and a bookmaker at the Stardust in Las Vegas. Really gives you the insight into how the wise-guys, the squares, the betting syndicates and the bookmakers offshore and in Vegas interact and influence the betting lines.

Well hopes this helps some, good luck.

Although I have only seen two or three of them, I really enjoyed the hour long PBS type "Casino Stories" about real life Vegas characters.

Anybody know how many shows there are in the series? I can't seem to quite figure out when it is on the air here in Canada.

Uh,i wouldn't waste my time with the above
john patrick book.The guy is a fount of mathematical misinformation.But i will admit,
he is one of the funniest gambling buffoons
you will ever run across.He use to have this
gambling show that ran on public access cable;
judging from the lighting and the decor i think
it was filmed in his basement....He also sports
one of those toupees,that cause your jaw to drop
and mumble "what the hell is that thing made
of???"
ciao from maria, who's "pelt" is all
natural
/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif