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Cataloging Gambling History
By Len Butcher
There doesn't seem to be many landmarks left in Las Vegas, but one that still draws thousands of visitors is the Gambler's Book Club downtown where boxes, tabletops and counters overflow with books, videos, software and anything else that relates to gambling. For more than 40 years, the Gambler's Book Club has been a heaven and hangout for hard-core gamblers, wannabe high rollers and just about anyone who has an interest in gambling and wants to learn how to play better or read about the good old days of Sin City.
The shop contains some 400,000 books, as well as gambling video tapes and software and has one of, if not the most comprehensive catalogues in the world. And the man who oversees it all is 66-year-old Howard Schwartz, a native New Yorker, who inherited the store in 2003 from its founders, John and Edna Luckman upon Edna's death in 2003. Schwartz had worked at the store as clerk and later manager for many years and what he doesn't know about gambling books isn't worth knowing.
He also has a million stories to tell. "See this?" he asks, taking down a box from one of the bookshelves. "Friends of a craps player named System Smitty, who died about 10 years ago, gave this to me, saying Smitty wanted me to have it." The box reveals a magnet, dice and a roulette ball. Dragging the magnet slowly above the items, the dice begin flipping, the ball rolling. "They're loaded," Schwartz explains with a smile. "I wonder what Smitty was up to in his spare time?"
With books appealing to all areas of gambling, from how-to-play to dealing with gambling addiction, it attracts a wide variety of clientele--from actors and directors to card counters and jockeys. The Gambler's Book Club has seen them all, including cheats. How does he know? "They told me."
He tells of the time he was sure Mafia boss John Gotti dropped into the store. Schwartz said the man was in the organized crime section looking at a book with a picture of himself on the cover. Schwartz said, "Hey, that's you." The guy didn't answer and left the store. Schwartz learned later that Gotti was in town that day.
He also tells of a couple who stopped by the store and bought a book on keno for $1. Later that afternoon, they called to tell him they had played the exact numbers they found in the book and won $100,000.
And who could forget Little Eddie Seremba, a "real hustler who was fearless at the craps table," Schwartz remembers. "One day he stopped by the store and he was on a roll, up $800,000. Two weeks later he had lost it all. These are the ups and the downs of gambling."
Schwartz could go on forever with both funny and sad stories that he has heard over the years in the shop, so if he's there when you drop in, make sure to say hi. He may regale you with one of them. As well, make sure you get on the shop's mailing list.
The Gambler's Books Shop is located at 630 S. 11th St. Hours are Monday thru Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can check it out by going to www.gamblersbook.com
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