Slot machines are the backbone of most casinos. They earn the most money and determine the physical layout of the casino floor. The management of slot machines, which includes overseeing employees, selecting machines, designing the playing space, resolving customer disputes, and conducting analyses to improve operations, is a challenging field whose complexity has grown as the machines themselves have become more sophisticated. To better document the current issues in slot management--and the change the field has seen over the past four decades--the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Center for Gaming Research conducted an oral history project. Those interviewed were at all stages of their careers. Drawn from these interviews, Tales from the Slot Floor features slot managers discussing several of the most important issues in today's casino world, including: the optimal layout of a slot floor; the qualities demonstrated by both good and bad managers; what customers want from their visits to the casino; the vendor/casino relationship; appealing to millennials; and what the future holds. In addition, those with long careers share their views on the changes they have seen, and all subjects offer their advice to those embarking on a career in slot management. For those interested in becoming slot managers, or those just curious about how casinos work, Tales from the Slot Floor gives you the inside story of slot operations, from those who do it.

First Published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Penned by a reputable authority on casinos, this guide provides the tools of the trade in order to perform a successful climb to the top of the gaming mountain. A step-by-step instructional approach is presented, going beyond the standard handbooks on blackjack, craps, and slots to include tips and tricks on baccarat, roulette, and more. A must-have for both casual and professional gamblers throughout the nation, this invaluable companion is guaranteed to provide the winning edge to beat the house.

Bob Dancer is the best known video poker player and writer in the world. In just six years, after coming to Las Vegas with a $6,000 bankroll, Dancer won more than $1 million playing beatable machines. Million Dollar Video Poker recounts the events of those six years, with stories about his meteoric ups and downs, and lessons for players of all skill levels. Video poker is one of those rare casino games that can be beaten by a talented and informed player, and Dancer explains how it's done. Never before has a top video poker professional shared so many of his winning secrets.

Dealing in a casino presents challenges and rewards not seen in many workplaces. With hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake every minute, table games pits are high-stress workplaces. Managing a workforce of dealers and attending to the needs of players brings stresses of its own. In 2015, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's Center for Gaming Research received a grant from the UNLV University Libraries Advisory Board that enabled it to undertake an oral history project intended to capture the stories of table games managers, including both those currently working in the field and those who have retired. Drawn from these interviews, Tales from the Pit provides an overview of how the interviewees felt about a variety of topics, ranging from their experiences breaking in as new dealers to their transitions to management and the changes the industry has seen over their careers. The current and former managers speak candidly about the owners, bosses, dealers, and players who made each day challenging. This book illuminates the past several decades of casino history through the words of those who lived and made it.

The only book that examines the lifestyles and motivations of the world’s biggest gamblers, the whales, and how the casinos harpoon and beach them. This definitive exposé reveals the shrouded world of ultra-high rollers and the Faustian pacts they forge with their hosts, the casino representatives whose job it is to part them from their fortunes. The third edition includes an extensive update about Las Vegas, the "greening" of gambling, the nightclub and day club scenes, the evolution of the host position, and much more--all in the words of superhost Steve Cyr.