Every player who sits down at a gaming table to play any casino game should have read at least one book on that particular game. A player who buys chips and starts to play a game without the knowledge of how the game is played, is going to get a very expensive lesson. There are many good books that can teach you the basics of the games. Here are a few things to consider when buying a gambling book.

Determine You Interests
Before you buy a book you should determine what you want to learn. Are you looking for a book that will give you a basic understanding of all the games? If so, look for a general gambling book that will give a brief explanation about all the games. If you want to learn a specific game such as blackjack, then pick a book devoted to that game only.
 

Skill Level
Determine your skill level. If you don't know anything about the game, then you want a book that will teach you the basics. A new blackjack player will need to learn about basic strategy before he reads about advanced card counting. If you already know how to play you will want a book that will teach you advanced strategies that go beyond the basics.
 

Authors
There are many knowledgeable authors who also write for gaming magazines and Internet websites. You can sample their writings before you buy their books. Find one whose style you like. If you are looking for advanced strategies, you should read the works of several writers in order to get different opinions.

Price
Gambling books can cost you anywhere from $5 to $50 or more. You have to determine what the information is worth to you. Some players complain that the books are too expensive. However learning to play the game by reading about it will be much cheaper than getting your education at the tables.

Think
Reading is a vital part of learning but I'm not saying you should take everything you read at face value. Sometimes there will be conflicting opinions. The more you read about a subject, the more different views you will be exposed to. By reading a lot of different information, you will gain enough insight to be able to assimilate the information and weed out the facts from the fiction.