With the onset of the online gambling surge, casinos are everywhere: movies, television and even books. I found the latter to be the most interesting of the three media outlets, so I thought I’d look into the authors that best used the theme of gambling in their work:
 
1. The Gambler - Fyodor Dostoevsky
This novella is about Alexei, a tutor in the home of a Russian politician, who is indebted to wealthy Frenchman. Alexei, who knows nothing about the family’s financial situation, falls in love with the General’s Daughter. In order to help her family, she asks Alexei to place a bet for her at the local casino, a simple act that sets in motion a series of interesting events.
 
One interesting tidbit: the book was inspired by Dostoevsky’s own addiction to playing Roulette. In fact, he was under a tight deadline to finish the book, so that he could pay off the debt he had accumulated from gambling.
 
2. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
In this wildly popular novel is based on autobiographical events in Thompson’s life. The story followers Dr. Gonzo and Raoul Duke as they chase the American dream in Las Vegas, experimenting with drugs and other mind-altering substances along the way.
 
Interesting tidbit: Benecio Del Toro and Johnny Depp starred in a movie adaption of the novel (which most people know much better than the literary version).
 
3. Fools Die - Mario Puzo
From the acclaimed author of The Godfather, Fools Die is about two brothers named Merlyn and Artie. Set against a background of the film industry, the book chronicles the lives of the pair as they navigate through their lives, after a friend wins $400 000 while playing Baccarat.

I was playing the PS2 game Gun the other day and stumbled upon the poker mini game. After playing more of this addictive sidequest than the story missions, I began thinking to myself “What other console games have gambling minigames?”. 
 

First off, let’s talk about Gun’s minigame. It plays out like a regular game of poker. There are four sketches strewn out across the top of the screen with their cards laid out in front of them. The characters change from game to game, but that’s about as sophistocated as it gets. With the gorgeous in-game graphics throughout the rest of Gun, I feel like the poker minigame could have been so much better.

 
Next, I thought Afro Samurai did an amazing job of putting a spin on a poker minigame. It’s called Body Part Poker and it’s just about the best thing ever. When you get into a scrap with some thugs, you can opt in to play the game. Three cards then pop up in the corner of the screen, which will turn over whenever you cut off a particular body part of a player. For example, a straight flush is a leg, a head and a hand. When you get a great hand, you obtain certain key items and upgrades.

 
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas also has a great selection of casino games. When you get to Las Venturas, you can play traditional versions of blackjack, video poker, roulette, slots and wheel of fortune.

 
Check out Tales of Vesperia for PS3 for a cute video poker game. It runs exactly as regular video poker would, but with each face card representing a different character. Its also rumoured that this is the best way to make money in the game.

 
For some interesting slots, you can play Bioshock or Pokemon. Both are pretty basic slots games, but Bioshock has amazing graphics, so its just fun to experience it.

 
And, of course, there are many console games solely dedicated to poker and casino games, but I find gambling mini games a lot more fun. They’re a great way to earn extra cash and incentives throughout the game, while taking a break from story missions, so try them out!

If you have a games your in your home, let’s guess what kind of equipment you have:
 
A pool table? Check.
A video game console? Check.
A huge (40-inches or more) flatscreen TV? Check.
A stand-alone arcade game? Check.
A poker table? Check.
 
Out of all the card games you can play when you have company over, poker is by far the most popular option. But, suppose you have guests that don’t know how to play poker. No one really wants to sit around with a newbie and teach them how to play. Or, consider the situation in which you simply have too many guests at a party to sit down and host a poker game.
 
That’s when Blackjack comes in handy. It is one of the easiest casino card games to learn, with simple rules and a super fast pace. It is a great game for entertaining guests that are new to card games and gambling, as well as entertaining many guests at once. So, it could be in your best interest to invest in a Blackjack table. There are many different kinds to look into:
 

Folding Blackjack Tables: These tables come with collapsable legs, so the table can be tucked into a corner when its not being used. Perfect for those with a small gaming room. Most folding tables are metallic, resembling massage tables, but it is possible to get a permanent-looking, wooden table for under $400.

Stationary Blackjack Tables: These look like a sort of small bar with a Blackjack table on top. Commonly made of wood, these tables can add a touch of class to any in-home gaming center. Expect to pay at least $800.

Blackjack Tablettes: These are simple table-tops, consisting of a Blackjack green. It can sit right on top of your poker table, and be removed whenever you’re ready to play a few hands of Texas Hold ‘Em. You can find these for less than $50!

Gamble at home at the gamblingcity, the best place to play online blackjack for fun and cash!

Tired of playing poker for money? Or, are you just out of money? Strip poker is a fun and exciting way to play poker without risking any money. Everyone wants to try it, but there are very few that end up getting a group of friends together to play strip poker. But, it’s not as uncomfortable as you might think! Here are a few tips so your strip poker party will turn out friendly and fun:
 
First, make sure everyone you’ve invited is like-minded and will be alright with shedding some clothes in the name of poker. You don’t want to surprise anyone or make anyone feel uncomfortable. Now, you have to decide which form of strip poker to play:
 
Strip Poker Showdown – The fastest form of strip poker, Showdown requires players to take off an article of clothing every round. Only the player with the winning hand gets to keep their clothes on. Playing this way, you’ll end up with a room of naked people very quickly.
 
Non-betting Strip Poker – This game requires no betting, just drawing cards. After the draw, whoever has the worst hand, has to take something off.
 
Chip Strip Poker – In this version, each player has a few chips. Once a player runs out of chips, then they have to take off a piece of clothing.
 
Bet you didn’t know there were so many choices!
 
You can also change the rules up depending on how quickly you want to see everyone get naked. Make sure you let everyone know what counts as clothing. Some killjoys will try to argue that their earrings or their belt counts as a piece of clothing, so nip that in the bud by deciding on rules with everyone else before you get started. To avoid hard feelings and embarrassed friends, make sure everyone knows that underwear can stay on.

Poker Nights are a great way to get the gang together for a night of hanging out, drinking and socializing. Even if your friends aren’t avid gamblers, poker nights give you the chance to sit around the table with some old buddies or have your new friends get to know each other. It can be a pretty big event, so here’s a quick guide to putting together the perfect poker night:

1. Invitations. Make sure you invite people that you actually like spending time with. You might be tempted to invite a friend whose known to throw money around. You know, the one that no one else can stand being around. Even if it means he’ll be shelling out some serious cash and giving you the chance to make some big bucks, resist the urge to call him over. When you invite people you’re not too keen on, it just means the night is going to eventually bomb.

2. Time and Date. I think Thursday is the best night for a poker game, but that’s just me. Sunday through Monday, all your buddies are too concerned about having to work the next morning. But on Thursday, they’re willing to go to work tired or hungover on Friday. Friday and Saturday are also good days to hold a poker night, but people usually already have plans for the weekend, but it really depends on what your schedule looks like.

3. Set-Up. Get a good set of chips. 12 gram chips are a good weight; they feel like the real deal and are generally inexpensive. Make sure you get more than 500, and they should be in a case, just in case you’re travelling. Also, a round table to play on is ideal. Oval poker tables, like the ones you see on TV, aren’t the best socializing. You can also get cup holders and chip trays to make the experience feel more authentic. An automatic shuffler would be a nice addition if you’re not confident with your own shuffling skills.

You can also make the environment feel more genuine by turning down the lights and putting on some jazz music. Don’t have music blaring or the TV on in the background. Keep your bar fully stocked with beer, wine and other booze. Even mix up some martinis to make your guests feel like high rollers.

4. Rules. Use a “Buy Whatever” system, where there isn’t a set buy-in amount. This also lets players buy chips whenever they want, even if its in the middle of a hand. But, this means that there is no protection from “all-in”s, so if someone raises you more than you have, you have to buy more chips or fold. But, let’s not go crazy! Put a raise limit into effect so, for example, the maximum any player can raise is $2.00. This way, you don’t have people getting too competitive or walking home without shoes. Also, make sure everyone knows the rules, including which hands win. If you have novices in the crowd, take it slow for the first few rounds.

5. Games. Texas Hold ‘Em is perfect for poker nights. It’s simple and quick, easy for everyone to enjoy. But, if you’ve got some poker afficianados, try 7-Card Stud or something tricky like Blind Poker.