Overview

When you find out John McPherson took eight years to compile Beating the Odds, it’s a good bet nothing has been overlooked in his exhaustive research. And so it proves, as McPherson serves up more than 5500 terms on gambling, games and racing – each entry delightfully written, often with a handful of different explanations. It is a dictionary that will interest those within the industry, academics, researchers and any punters out there. Some games are extinct, others are at their height of popularity. While every entry is listed alphabetically, there is a handy index of games and terms listed at the back of the book. A more expansive and comprehensive book of its kind you will not find. 

About the author

John McPherson

For someone who compiled a book with more than 5500 gambling terms, it comes as something of a surprise that John McPherson describes himself as just a Melbourne Cup Day gambler. A PhD student at Southern Cross University in Lismore, McPherson is a writer and academic of humanities, media and cultural studies. 

Look inside

Download PDF excerpt.