Fools of Fortune; or, Gambling and Gamblers

The author, a former professional gambler who spent twenty-five years practicing every variety of gaming, offers a frank first-person confession and exposé that interweaves personal memoir with a researched history of gambling. He details the schemes, tricks, and devices used by professionals and confidence men, outlines the vice’s prevalence and destructive effects across regions, and argues for prevention by educating youth and parents about the near-certainty of loss. Chapters contributed by clergy reflect on moral and social consequences, while local case descriptions and practical warnings aim to deter newcomers and expose the unequal contest between dupes and experts.