Prologue: Rainmaker reborn
Thoth's gift : global early history
The die is cast : Greece, Rome, religion, and gambling
Knaves and kings : the evolution of playing cards
Taming Tyche : the science of gambling; lotteries are born
The Ridotto revolution : the first casino; European gambling to 1800
All is on the hazard : British gambling to 1750
Star-spangled gamblers : American gambling, 1600-1800
Baiting John Bull : British gambling, 1750-1900; whist; animal sports
Seeking the cure : European spa gambling, 1700-1870
Flight of the sparrow : Macau, Hong Kong, and British colonies
Wild cards : US gambling, 1800-1900
Fools of fortune : American gambling becomes urban
A sunny place for shady people : the Riviera becomes Europe's gambling paradise
Wise guys and one-armed bandits : the illegal business of gambling
Hard to resist : Nevada becomes America's gambling oasis
The salvation of sin : illegal resorts, the origins of public interest gambling
A place in the sun : the birth of the Las Vegas strip (1940-1980)
Runaway American dream : lotteries, Atlantic City, Indian gaming, riverboats
All in : the 20th century globalization of gambling
A clockwork volcano : the new strip; internet gambling
Epilogue: Thoughts on history.