Everyone who cares about gambling must, at some point, visit Las Vegas. It is the cards, dice, slots, and roulette capital of the world, the place that inspired modern-day Macau and outdoes Atlantic City.
If you are reading this, odds are that you are interested in casino gambling.
Professional gambling might seem like an easy-money occupation. But that is a bit illusory. In fact, becoming a professional gambler is more like a hard way to make an easy living.
When it comes to gambling in America, Las Vegas is the undisputed capital. It’s got great casinos, fantastic restaurants, cool nightclubs, and stage shows that are good enough to pull you away from the tables.
There are lots of ways to strike it rich in a casino. Go on a major blackjack run. Hit a roulette longshot. Crush a World Series of Poker tournament.
Walk into most any casino, most anywhere in the world, from Atlantic City to Monte Carlo to Macau, and you will see wall-to-wall gamblers. They play the same games, adhere to the same rules, and generally have a blast.
Michael Kaplan is a journalist based in New York City. He has written extensively on gambling for publications such as Wired, Playboy, Cigar Aficionado, New York Post and New York Times. He is the author of four books including Aces and Kings: Inside Stories and Million-Dollar Strategies from Poker’s Greatest Players.
He’s been known to do a bit of gambling when the timing seems right.