Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling

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Gotham Books, 2006 - Games & Activities - 570 pages
Historian David G. Schwartz tells the epic story of gambling, beginning with its early emergence in divination rituals and ending with today's global gaming culture. The book begins with the rolling of knuckle bones in prehistoric times, progresses through the casting of lots portrayed in the Bible and traces gaming through the heights of the Greek and Roman civilisations. It also investigates the invention of playing cards in China, the birth of table games in Venice and the British Empire's work in spreading gambling around the world. Truly fascinating.

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Contents

The Die Is Cast
22
Taming Tyche
73
The Ridotto Revolution
92
Copyright

4 other sections not shown

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About the author (2006)

David G. Schwartz was born in Atlantic City, where he has worked in casino security and surveillance. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he earned his Ph.D. in United States history from UCLA. He is currently the director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is the author of the academic books Cutting the Wireand Suburban Xanadu. He is a consultant and frequent commentator on gambling and related issues.

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