As with anything in life, you don’t become excellent unless you train well. And part of training is reading books. Despite our fascination with screens big and small in the 21st century, books are still popular. In fact, over the past couple of years, nearly three quarters of people were reading regularly.
While some people enjoy reading fiction, others like reading to improve their skills. As there are books on every subject conceivable, that could mean reading books on gaming, Knitting, Basketball, Photography, Kayaking.
And much more besides. You can gain a lot of insight by reading about your preferred hobby.
Gaming is a huge entertainment industry in 2023 with over 1 billion playing online. While many people love downloading their favourite game to play whenever, most want to be the best they can.
If you’re a regular gamer, then you might decide to read up to make yourself a better player. Whether your passion is fishin frenzy with Virgin Games or Omaha hold ‘em, you can find gaming books to improve your play.
Gaming Books to choose for your bookshelf
If you want to deep dive into your preferred hobby, then add these books to your reading list.
Beating the Casinos at Their Own Game by Peter Svoboda
Great for beginners with colourful illustrations that really take you to the casino floor. Svoboda has written an uncomplicated guide that covers most casino games so you can learn the foundations.
He also gives great advice on honing your skills so you can get understand and play better.
Casino Secrets: How to Win More Money – And Keep It! By Victor H Royer
Everyone wants to win more, right? Not only has this book a great title, but it truly helps on your quest to bank more.
The book covers many topics in a comprehensive way. Some of these are:
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Craps
- Roulette
- Video Poker
- 20-Card-Keno
- Pai Gow Poker
It also gives easy strategies that you can put into practice on your favourite casino games. It has a great section on slots, so if that’s your preferred way of playing, then you’ll learn lots.
The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King by Michael Craig
Although instructional books are very handy, particularly when you’re starting out, sometimes a rip-roaring read is more fun. Craig has written a novel that introduces you to the high-stakes poker world.
It’s set in Las Vegas (where else?) and it includes accounts of some of the biggest poker games ever. The timeline encompasses many years, and you’ll read about The Corporation, which included some of the best poker players: Andrew Beal, Minh Ly, Ted Forrest – the Suicide King, Jennifer Harman, among several others.
Who came out on top of the longest-running poker game? You’ll have to read to find out. It might also let you in on what not to do when the stakes are down.
Beat the Dealer: A Winning Strategy for the Game of Twenty-One by Edward O. Thorp
One of the most popular card games, both on and offline is Blackjack, also known as Twenty-One. This is a Blackjack players bible, even though it’s over 50 years old!
If you want to get into Twenty-One/Blackjack, Thorp provides you with some basic strategies. However, it’s also good for longer term players of the game, as he delves deeper into the mathematical probabilities.
The book includes brilliant charts that help you work out the odds whether you’re playing on or offline. You can play live games of Blackjack any time of day online, you don’t need to be in a casino.
The Smart Money by Michael Konik
Professional journalist Konik is passionate about sports. The market for speculating on sports in the US is growing quickly and it’s one that many dabble in occasionally.
Konik outlines his meeting with Rick Mathew, who is heavily involved in the business. Not only did Mathew help the journalist win a lot but he picked up many tips.
The story tells how Konik became a member of the Brain Trust, a group who learned to beat the bookies. It’s not just a bouncing read, but it actually provides a great deal of instruction.
If you’re into wagering on sports, then you should add this to your library.
How to Be a Better Gamer: 20 Tips to Improve Your Gaming by James Niles
If you want to take your gaming to the next level, then you should give this a read. It’s available for Kindle, so you can even switch between your favourite game and this book.
Inside you’ll find little secrets like tweaking the settings of a video game to give you a better edge. The 20 tips refer to different sections that really make a difference to your gaming XP.
It’s a fascinating read as it delves into physical and psychological elements when gaming. It can help you improve your focus and hand-eye coordination, a winning combination when used together.
A sure-fire way to get better.
Whether you’re an avid reader or simply looking to improve your gaming skills, any one of these books will help. Learn tips, tricks and gain deeper insight into your preferred game, and see those scores improve.