Squares and Sharps, Suckers and Sharks: The Science, Psychology & Philosophy of Gambling - Hardcover

Buchdahl, Joseph

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1843448580 ISBN 13: 9781843448587

Publisher: High Stakes, 2016

Synopsis

People have been gambling, in one form or another, for as long as history itself. Why? Money, entertainment, escape and a desire to win are all traditional explanations. Arguably, however, these are secondary considerations to a higher order purpose: a craving for control. Gambling offers a means of gaining authority over the unknown, granting us a sense of control over uncertainty. Almost always that sense is illusionary—gambling, including betting and investing, is essentially random—yet for many it is nonetheless profoundly rewarding. This book attempts to explore the reasons why. Along the way, it examines the science of probability and uncertainty, why gambling is often condemned, the difference between expectation and utility, the irrationality of human beings, evolutionary perspectives on gambling, luck and skill, market efficiency and the wisdom of crowds, why winners take all, cheating, and why the process matters more than the outcome.

About this title

About the Author:

Joseph Buchdahl runs the website Sports-Tipsters.co.uk, independently verifying online sports betting advisory services. He is the author of Fixed Odds Sports Betting.

About this edition

• Publisher: High Stakes
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1843448580
• ISBN 13: 9781843448587
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352