Arnie Wexler's life as a gambler began on the streets of Brooklyn, New York, flipping cards, shooting marbles and playing pinball machines. At the age of fourteen he found the racetrack, a bookie and started playing the stock market. His obsession with gambling accelerated until a fateful day in 1968 when it all came crashing down. Wexler's gripping narrative leads us through the dungeon of a compulsive gambler's world - chasing the big win and coming up with empty pockets - and how his addiction drove him and his wife, Sheila, to the edge of life. With help, they managed to escape and together they have devoted themselves to helping others with the problem they know so well.

Author Biography

Arnie Wexler is a recovering compulsive gambler and a Certified Compulsive Gambling Counselor. He was the Executive Director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey for eight years and the past Senior Vice-President of National Council on Problem Gambling. He runs a national hotline for compulsive gamblers and is a nationally known authority, consultant, and lecturer on compulsive gambling. He has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including Nightline, the Today Show, Good Morning America, Hard Copy, This Week with David Brinkley, Inside Edition, 48 Hours, and Crossfire among others. He has been profiled and quoted in many newspapers and magazines including Psychology Today, Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, LA Times, Glamour, and Newsweek. He lives with his wife in Bradley Beach, New Jersey. Steve Jacobson was a sports reporter and columnist for Newsday for more than forty years with a great interest in the aspects of sports. He co-authored a number of books with notable sports personalities. He was named by Associated Press among the top sports columnists and twice was nominated by Newsday for the Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Long Beach, New York.