Encyclopedia «Gambling in America» examines the «people, places, events, laws and policies, and concepts concerning gambling as well as gambling equipment». The focus is on gambling in the Western Hemisphere.
More than 250 entries are arranged in alphabetical order and vary from a paragraph to several pages in length.
Each state has its own entry, as do most Latin American countries and Canadian provinces. There are separate entries for Las Vegas and Reno. Separate articles are biographies of notable figures in gambling (Sheldon Adelson, Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, Steve Wynn). Running more than 20 pages in length about horse racing. Many entries deal with the culture, economics, and legality of gambling.
The book also contains a chronology, a glossary of gambling terms, an annotated list of relevant court cases, and a bibliography for further reading.
Written by William Norman Thompson (University of Nevada, Las Vegas), professor and gambling scholar. Most articles are written by Thompson, but others are signed or coauthored by contributors with financial, legal, and academic backgrounds.
