Bet the House: How I Gambled Over a Grand a Day for 30 Days on Sports, Poker, and Games of Chance

by Richard Roeper

Book Overview

Over 30 days in early 2009, Richard Roeper risked more than a quarter-million dollars on practically every method of gambling currently available in America. Bet the House chronicles his wild journey.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1569762473
• ISBN13: 9781569762479
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

This book got me reading again

Honestly it's been a while since I have sat down and read a book all the way through. I heard about this book on the Howard Stern show and since I gamble from time to time, I figured I could relate to it and maybe learn a thing or two. After reading it in just 5 hours, I am hooked on reading again. Richard does a great job of keeping the readers attention through anecdotes and fun facts about gambling all while crusading through his quest of gambling at least $1,000 a day. Anyone that enjoys to gamble, thinks they have a shot at the lotto, or just likes to be entertained should pick this one up. Great read front to back and I am now hooked on the Roeper mindset. Two thumbs up!

From the perspective of a non-gambler.

I don't play games of chance, and am not particularly knowledgeable about them. I'm also not into sports, and know little of their rules and players. I do however like Roeper's writing style, and was curious to see if I would enjoy a book by him on a subject I have little interest in. In short, I did. While there were sections of the book that made me go glassy eyed where he goes into a play-by-play description of whatever card game or sporting event he's wagering on, in general this title was not so technical that I felt completely befuddled the majority of time. The author's writing style is easy to read and interesting, and I felt that I did gain some insight into a world I know very little about. Roeper did a good job in my opinion of illustrating both the allure and downsides to having the life of a gambler, and in an interesting way. I can't say that this title did anything to change my opinion of this activity. I had no desire to try my hand at poker or 21 at the Riverboats or online games before I read this, and I certainly don't now. But I do feel that I understand those that do a bit more, and I was entertained in the process. There were some downsides to the book for me, however. The baffling play-by-plays, while certainly not the majority of the text, were still enough to stall the flow of the reading. He uses gambling jargon throughout that while certainly appropriate in context, left me confused. I understand that this is probably unavoidable given the theme of the book, but it was still a drawback for me. And now I know that Roeper hates Keno because it is has bad odds, but I still have no clue what Keno actually is, aside from being a form of gambling one can do in Las Vegas. In short, I would recommend this title to other non-gamblers like myself. It was largely understandable despite my profound lack of familiarity with the subject, and a fun read that gave me a better insight into something I knew nothing about. I feel that my gamble of buying this book certainly turned out to be a winning hand.

Ultimately Succeeds, In That It's Interesting for Non-Gamblers

I know very little about gambling, except that I like to casually play Texas hold 'em or blackjack. So the first challenge to an author with a book like this is: can you make it interesting to what we call in my biz "non-category" readers? Is it appealing to the layperson, who doesn't know what "the vig" means or has no idea what the odds are on one casino game versus another, and doesn't care? The answer: mission totally accomplished. Just as Scorcese's "Casino" served as an insider's look into Vegas then while following a human story narrative, this book makes you feels as though you've suddenly been dropped into the middle of the whole gambling world as a fly on the wall. You'll learn the language, what bookies actually do, what they DON'T do, what requires skill and what is really just a scam. Not surprisingly, lottery tickets are probably the biggest sucker's bet of all time--and ironically they're the most legal form of gambling, a theme which is touched on repeatedly throughout the book. You'll get a sense of what it's like to have money riding on sports bets, horse racing, dog racing (which, as described, is eerily depressing, like a scene out of "No Country for Old Men."), the stock market, and, literally, simply flipping a coin one hundred times at a bar--among others. Even with all the gambling setups and jargon, biographical details of Roeper's life manage to keep bubbling up at various points, including a horrific Vegas-set breakup story that may hit home to many. Lest I paint this book too darkly, I read it in one sitting and I can't tell you how many LOL moments and characters appear--using VERY colorful language--which bring levity to the task at hand: risking at least $1,000/day on a bet of some sort. I won't tell what the final over/under was, but I can recommend this is a wildly entertaining read that you'll think about for some time afterward. The other interesting subtext--which I'll leave to others to debate, but he gives mention--is: is what's being described merely a passion for gambling, or an addiction?

"I hate pocket Queens. And, no, that's not a joke about short cross-dressers." - Richard Roeper

If you don't like to gamble, this is not a book for you. That being said, if you know what it's like to feel the rush of playing poker, the thrill of blackjack, or even the absurd joy in getting a bonus round in slots, this book will keep your turning the pages at a rapid pace. Movie critic Richard Roeper goes all Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) on the world of gambling. It's a 30 day experiment of sorts into the art of all types of ways to risk your hard earned dollars - not just casino games mind you - everything from scratch tickets to horse and dog racing are covered in the 260 pages. He is able to capture the "rush" feeling, and spend more money than most common recreational gamers would ever dare bet - but would love to given the financial liberty. It may not be the most eloquently written or perfectly structured depiction, but it gets the perfect rating from me for doing exactly what it promises to on the inside flap, and much more. From the list of the top ten gambling movies, to a mysterious dream scenario, to playing next to the likes of the major pros, gamblers of all types and bet sizes will enjoy this book.

No Gamble here...

You won't be gambling on this book - it's a winner. Roeper's easy read style and outrageous story will lasso your interest. If you love sports betting and gambling in general it is a must-read. James Alexander