The Perfect Bet

January 11, 2016
On first blush, Kucharski, a lecturer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, would seem out of his comfort zone with this detailed exploration of how mathematics and physics operate in the world of gambling. However, he makes clear that the principles of mathematical modeling—the ways myriad variables can be used to predict outcomes—can be profitably transferred to the world of games of chance. Kucharski begins with a brief history of failed searches for the gambler’s holy grail, which would be an infallible system, and then delves into modern mathematically based strategies that can shift the odds in the bettor’s favor. Among the strategies he deconstructs are card counting, the calculation of the physics of a roulette wheel’s spin, online poker-playing bots, and the ultrasophisticated algorithms employed to handicap horse races, soccer, and football. Kucharski’s straightforward writing and attention to the fundamentals of the business of gambling, and the quirky personalities of the players who craft the strategies, successfully balance the drier descriptions of the underlying mathematics. The conjunction of the multibillion dollar gambling industry and mathematics brings together Ph.D.s, Las Vegas gamblers, and investment bankers, and though readers looking for an edge might be disappointed, Kucharski delivers a fascinating read. Agent: Peter Tallack, Science Factory.

July 1, 2016

Kucharski (mathematical modeling, London Sch. of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) presents a solidly researched and clearly written story of how scientists have applied their specialized knowledge and skills to the underlying physics of gambling in order to overlay reason and probability onto mere randomness and pure luck. Their focus is on the many factors involved in dice games, the roulette wheel, counting cards, poker and other card betting games, horse racing, and the lottery. Listeners will learn how these efforts to understand scientifically and take advantage of the intricacies of gambling influenced the early phases of development of the complex fields of mathematics, statistics, probability, game theory, computers and information management, and artificial intelligence. Kucharski's work also reveals the fundamental reason why casino odds always favor the house. Narrator Jonathan Yen's lively conversational style helps listeners connect with the complicated math, statistics, and probability research that has had a fascinating influence on the science of searching for the perfect bet. VERDICT Essential for erudite listeners and all university math and statistics collections.--Dale Farris, Groves, TX

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.