Doyle Brunson bio is a winner

A lamentable side effect of the poker craze that began around 2003 has been a spate of undistinguished books on poker, too many of them driven by less-than-compelling personalities or carrying a thrown-together, slipshod feel.

Happily for aficionados of poker, gambling or Americana, Doyle Brunson's newly released autobiography, "The Godfather of Poker," smashes the mold.

'Roxy' Roxborough interview, Part 2 of 2

The influential oddsmaker discusses how the concept of the opening line has changed through the years; the NBA betting scandal; and where the next innovations in sports gambling will emerge.

When I got together with Michael "Roxy" Roxborough recently, we agreed to meet in the race and sports book of the Las Vegas Hilton -- and not only because it's close to the residence Roxborough maintains in the city.

More than two decades after it opened in December 1986, the venerable "SuperBook" at the Hilton remains a sentimental favorite of Roxborough's.

"The reason I have a soft spot for this place is that it changed the game for Las Vegas," Roxborough said. "They spent almost $18 million on it, and at the time that was an outrageous amount. It raised the bar. So Caesars had to remodel their sports book, and when the Mirage opened (in 1989), Steve Wynn had to outdo this place."

The competition among casino properties to create the most lavish race and sports betting emporium in Las Vegas led to a "golden era of megabooks," as Roxborough remembers it.

Reaction to Harrah's being hit with a $100,000 penalty for sports book gaming violations

In response to a complaint made to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Harrah's Entertainment has been penalized $100,000. This complaint stemmed from an episode in which I attempted to place wagers at the Harrah's sports book located on the Las Vegas Strip. The event occurred in April, 2008.

The settlement between Harrah's and the Gaming Control Board included a $75,000 fine and $25,000 reimbursement in investigation costs.

Michael 'Roxy' Roxborough: Look to Asia for next betting boom (Part 1 of 2)

Big changes are afoot in gambling on his adopted home continent, the influential oddsmaker says.

From the time he founded the oddsmaking firm Las Vegas Sports Consultants in 1982 until his retirement 17 years later, Michael "Roxy" Roxborough presided over one of the longest and most dynamic periods of sustained growth the sports betting industry has ever experienced.

In conjunction with a crew of oddsmaking specialists and trusted consultants, Roxborough created and issued the Las Vegas line, which at the time commanded influence among gamblers around the nation and the world. As the public face of sports betting, Roxborough also dealt with irascible media types and advised casino officials on issues related to sports book management and state regulations.

When he sold the last of his betting business interests in 1999, Roxborough left behind his hectic and stressful Vegas lifestyle and moved to Thailand. While vacationing in the mountains of Chiang Mai, he had become enamored by the relaxed culture and gentle spirit of the Southeast Asian nation.