Wayne Allyn Root - The King of Vegas Guide to Gambling: How to Win Big at POKER, Casino Gambling & Life!

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Let me start with God. Who would believe that a book by the King of Vegas would start by acknowledging God? Now, theres the first bit of Contrarian wisdom in a book dedicated to Contrarian philosophy. God is my foundation, my motivation, my source of inspiration. I am a spiritual being first and foremost. Most gamblers lose. Most gamblers do not build their lives around God. Coincidence? I think not. God is the answer for anyone, anywhere, in any professionincluding gambling. Especially gambling! I pray to God to start every day. I thank God for the many blessings in my life. I prayed to God for the creativity and wisdom to write this book. I now pray that this book will empower, improve, and enrich the lives of readers all over the world. I hope (and pray) that this book encourages a whole generation of readers (and gamblers) to pray!

Next I must acknowledge my family. Let me start with my wife, Debra Parks Root. Talk about blessings! She is a stunningly beautiful blond goddess. She is college-educated, with a masters and a Ph.D. in homeopathy (the science of healthy living and holistic medicine). She speaks five languages. Shes a former Miss Oklahoma. And a former lead singer for music legends like Ginger Baker and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Too good to be true? Im just getting warmed up! Shes a gourmet cook. A spiritual dynamo (she comes from a family of devoted, selfless Christian ministers and missionaries). Many men say that their wife is the perfect wife and mother. Debra really is. She gave up all the beauty contests, stadiums full of music fans, and an acting career to be Mrs. Wayne Root, aka the Queen of Vegas! To be my rock. To be the mother of Dakota, Hudson, and Remington. To serve as CEO of the Root household. I write the books; I host the TV shows; I pick the winners; she does everything else! All I have to do is be creative and make money. God has blessed me beyond beliefand Debra is the ultimate blessing.

Then there are the perfect children Debra has created, raised, and educated. Our daughter Dakota is an angel from heaven. She reads as many as five books a week; can outtalk and outdebate her father (a pretty fair debater); shes beautiful like her mother; and she excels at martial arts, tennis, swimming, and fencing. She recently qualified for the Junior Olympics in fencing. My prediction is that a Stanford degree and an Olympic gold medal in fencing are in Dakotas future. But Dakota is not the only special Root. Six-year-old Hudson is smart as a whip, strong as a bull; hes a macho daddys boy who loves playing football, boxing, car racing, and roughhousing with his daddy and his baby brother, Remington. I bound out of bed just to see the two of them every morning! And finally theres that two-year-old, Remington Reagan Root (named after my hero President Ronald Reagan). If hes anything like Dakota or Hudson, the future holds great promise for Remington Reagan. Debra, Dakota, Hudson, and Remington are the lights of my life.

Speaking of best friends and family: Doug Miller is at the top of any list. Best friend, mentor, loyal business partner. He was the first adult to believe in me and my talents. Without his counsel, advice, and wisdom, I could not and would not be where I am today. There would be no WinningEDGE.com or King of Vegas. Doug is now COO and president of my company, GWIN, Inc. He minds the store and runs the day-to-day operations of my business while Im off writing books, hosting TV shows, giving speeches, handicapping winners, meeting and greeting fans, and being the King of Vegas. I thank God for putting Doug in my life. Another in a series of miracles and blessings. Doug, like Debra, makes it easy for me to be Wayne.

Other family members who must be acknowledged: my in-laws Ralph and Martha Parks, who after the deaths of my parents took over as my mom and dad. They are the reason Debra is a world-class wife and mother. They recently moved to Las Vegas to be in their grandchildrens lives on a daily basis. If my life sounds like a fairy tale, it is, and the Parks family is why. Many people talk about God and spirituality. The Parks family lives it. Thanks also to my sister, Lori Brown, and her husband, Doug, and my in-laws Minister Charlie and Darla Finocchiaro. And to my parents, David and Stella Root, and grandparents Simon and Meta Reis. They are all up in heaven, but I feel their wisdom, motivation, and presence in my life every day. They were the original foundation in my life. I think of them often.

Now to a few business acknowledgments. First, my editors at Tarcher/ Penguin, Joel Fotinos, Keri English, and Sarah Litt. This book was rushed and released in time for football season only through their herculean efforts and those of all the folks at Penguin. I am forever grateful for their faith, professionalism, work ethic, and teamwork. Tarcher is the finest publisher I have had the honor of working with. Then theres Paul Pease, who worked on the original Zen of Gambling hardcover. I owe the success of this book to all of you.

To my team at GWIN, where so many of you run the business, so that I can receive the glory: Jeff Johnson (my CFO), Hollis Harvard Barnhart (my VP and general manager), to name just two. Hollis in particular has been by my side in one capacity or another for almost fifteen years. He also has been my teacher and mentor when it comes to the art and psychology of poker. He is like a brother to me. Without friends like him by my side, business would just be work.

Other key players at Team Root who must be acknowledged: My attorney, Lee Sacks, a true spiritual warrior on my behalf. Like Hollis Barnhart and Doug Miller, Lee is a business associate who has grown into beloved friend and virtually family. Michael Yudin, who first believed in my TV talents almost twenty years ago and today serves as cocreator and co-executive producer of King of Vegas on Spike TV. Brian Gadinsky, executive producer of King of Vegas, who took my dream and created a prime-time TV show. And of course, all the executives at Spike TV who made King of Vegas a reality: Doug Herzog, Kevin Kay, Sharon Levy, Tim Duffy, and the entire Spike TV family. Roger Harrison, one of the nicest and most loyal men I have ever met; today he serves not only as a valued member of the GWIN board of directors, but also as Uncle Roger to my children. Doug Fleming, my high school principal back in New Rochelle, New York, twenty-five years ago. Doug and I have a unique relationshiphow many students count their high school principal as a close friend a quarter-century later? People often talk about a favorite educator; in my lifetime that one favorite educator who made such a difference in my life was Doug. Petar Lasic, a friend and director of my many TV projects for more than fifteen years now. Arnie Rosenthal, who recognized my talent and had the guts to turn a raw kid into a national TV anchorman back in 1989. Thanks also to all my dear friends who have been invaluable in building my confidence and career over the years.