Edwin Silberstang’s archive (spanning 1963-2007) encompasses draft manuscripts, promotional material, book outlines, and galley annotations for several works penned by Silberstang. The collection also features publisher contracts and correspondence, snapshots of Silberstang, book jackets, and press cuttings. Silberstang’s literary contributions mainly revolved around the theme of gaming.
Edwin Silberstang, a renowned author of various gambling-themed books and novels, passed away at his Henderson residence on Tuesday after a prolonged struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 82.
Silberstang authored over 50 books, some of which are considered gamblers’ manuals, such as “Playboy’s Book of Games,” “The Winner’s Guide to Casino Gambling,” and “Winning Casino Craps.” His expert views on gambling were regularly highlighted in the media and he served as an advisor on the 1987 film “Big Town,” featuring Matt Dillon as a professional craps player.
Silberstang took the most pride in his novels. His debut novel, “Rapt in Glory,” was a hard-hitting crime story, inspired by his experiences as a lawyer in New York. His following work, “Nightmare of the Dark,” depicted a young boy’s survival in Holocaust death camps. Another one of his works, “Snake Eyes,” was set against the backdrop of a Las Vegas casino.
Silberstang is recognized as one of the most productive authors in the field of gambling. His book, Winner’s Guide to Casino Gambling, holds a place on my bookshelf. Among writers who discuss the major games, Silberstang is considered one of the finest, if not the absolute best. He demonstrated exceptional command of the English language and had a knack for blending personal anecdotes with the rigid rules and odds of the games. When I initially established my Odds website, I utilized Silberstang’s book as a reference point.
The method he used to cover as many games as possible, blending mathematics and personal narrative, likely had a significant influence on the development of my own website and style, upon reflection. However, there are several points where I disagree with Silberstang. Firstly, the usage of variations of the word “win” in the titles of books about games that can’t be won without deceit, such as Winning Casino Craps. He also occasionally disregarded ties in his house figures, as seen in the case of baccarat. This approach, which I consider outdated and reminiscent of John Scarne’s method, is not something I agree with.
