Great Gifts For Gamblers
With the holiday season now upon us, folks everywhere are in a gift-giving mood and on the prowl for that perfect present. On that front, I had the pleasure of recently penning a primer on buying gifts for my favorite demographic group – casino gambling enthusiasts.
When your mission is to find a gift for someone you love, ours is to make sure it’s the most thoughtful, heartfelt and original one going. That’s why we’ve scoured the nation to bring together beautifully made designs from thousands of the US’s best. Christmas Gifts for Gamblers and Casino Players Christmas can be both a joyous occasion as well as the most maddening event of all year. The joy is from the Christmas festivities such as large family.
Custom-made cards and poker chips have been a popular gambling gift for a long time. Adorning photos of your friend and their friends on a deck of cards never gets old. They can even be made as unique.
You can catch up on Part I of this two-part series here, where cool gambler-centric gifts like the Roulette Shot Glass Roulette drinking game, computers designed for online casino play, and lockable backpacks can be found. Below you’ll find six more gifts and gadgets fit the gambler in your life, and remember, these items can be given 365 days of the year whenever you’re feeling generous.
A Collection of Classic Gambling-Themed Hollywood Hits
I may be dating myself a bit here, but as a kid, I used to love waking up on Christmas morning to find a few large rectangular packages under the tree.
Best Christmas Gifts For Gamblers
With their distinctive height and weight, I always knew these gifts were VHS tapes of my favorite movies… but I never knew which flicks I was going to find. That anticipation made adding new movies to my collection an experience to savor, so I slowly pulled the wrapping off one inch at a time to extend the reveal.
I’m all grown up now (and then some), but I still love collecting my favorite movies and exploring new cinema I’ve yet to discover before. Of course, the digital age has converted collections like these to Netflix libraries and the like – I still rock the Blu-Ray discs myself, sue me… – but movies still make for a great gift.
And that’s especially true for fans of casino gambling lore, Las Vegas history, and the Wild West poker games of old. If you know somebody who can’t get enough of the gambler’s lifestyle, even when they haven’t played a hand in a while, I have a few choice selections to get their new collection started.
Naturally, no legitimate casino movie collection can begin without Martin Scorsese’s gritty retrospective Casino (1995). Filmed with the iconic director’s signature tracking shots, snappy Mafioso dialogue, and a hefty helping of brutal mob violence, Casino tells the tale of Sam “Ace” Rothstein and his Tangiers casino empire. Rothstein’s story was based on Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, a mob-connected bookie who turned the Fremont and other casinos into money-making engines for his backers back home.
Other favorites of mine from the Las Vegas gambling genre include Diamonds Are Forever (1971), The Gambler (1974), Rain Man (1988), Leaving Las Vegas (1995), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), The Cooler (2003), 21 (2008), The Hangover (2009), and Molly’s Game (2017).
If you want to expand the collection to include historical gambling content, check out The Hustler (1961), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), The Sting (1973), The Color of Money (1986), Maverick (1994), Rounders (1998), and either version of Casino Royale (1967 or 2006).
A Genuine Decommissioned Slot Machine
These bad boys will set you back a bit more than a few flicks, but if your loved one loves nothing more than slots or slot machine history, a used machine can be quite the treat.
Most casinos cycle through their older slot machines, updating to new makes and models along the way. And when they pull a machine off the floor, enterprising casino operators “flip” them to specialty retailers who the sell them at a markup.
You’ll be looking at a bill between $1,500 and $2,000 for the most part, with classic slots like Buffalo, Hot Shot Progressive, and Double Diamond 2000 easily located via simple online search.
When buying a slot machine specifically, you should realize that the gift will practically serve as more of a decoration or memento than anything else. Maybe it’s your giftee’s favorite game, or the one they once won that big jackpot on way back when, but the choice will largely be sentimental rather than utilitarian.
After all, they can’t exactly use the machine to improve their strategies, as slots are purely a game of chance at heart. And indeed, spinning away coin after coin, only to “win” a jackpot that can’t be paid out isn’t really the idea in the first place.
A Genuine Decommissioned Video Poker Machine
For the video poker crowd, legitimate Game King machines from the IGT gaming company are also readily available on reseller sites.
The iconic Game King machines come equipped with all of your favorite variants, from Jacks or Better to Deuces Wild and Double Double Bonus. Even better, video poker fanatics can parlay their new ownership of a Game King into endless hours of actual practice.
Remember, video poker is a skill-based game in which a player’s knowledge of basic strategy directly influences their overall expected return. In other words, skilled players who know all the right moves win more money (and lose less of it) than your average tourist in off the street.
Great Gifts For Gamblers People
With a basic strategy guide pulled up on their phone, and a bucket of quarters at the ready for old time’s sake, the recipient of a Game King machine can go to work improving their basic strategy skills.
Then, when they know for a fact that they’ll be playing perfectly, they can head out and try to track down those elusive Royal Flush jackpots armed with every available edge.
Personalized Playing Cards for Their Home Poker Game
The “poker boom” of 2003-2006 has long since passed, so you won’t see Daniel Negreanu on TV bluffing with Big Slick on a baby card board anytime soon.
Even so, plenty of casual poker fans are out there today hosting home poker games. These games can range from impromptu duels between family members after dinner, to recurring weekly events that attract few dozen participants. In any event, poker is still “America’s Game” when it comes to cards – which is why personalized decks are so much fun.
Several sites out there specialize in printing up customized 52-card decks based on designs of their clients’ choosing. You could gift your cousin a deck which comes complete with their portraits in place of the royalty on Jacks, Queens, and Kings (reserving your face for the Ace of course). Or maybe you create personalized deck based on your recipient’s pet project or passion.
This gift rewards creativity, so remember the old maxim “it’s the thought that counts.” Think hard about what sort of deck will make their day, then sit down and tinker with the design templates until you come up with a magical 52-card lineup.
The American Casino Guide Coupon Booklet
Available on Amazon for less than your average Las Vegas buffet plate, the “American Casino Guide Coupon Booklet” is a great grab for budget-conscious gamblers.
I recommend coupling this gift with Bourie’s larger “American Casino Guide,” which eschews coupons for comprehensive coverage of America’s wider gambling scene. Essentially, this book guides the reader through every commercial and tribal casino in the country, providing need to know facts and figures about the property, gaming floor stats, and contact information.
A Sharp Tailored Outfit and a Nice Pair of Shoes
Check out any of those movies I mentioned earlier and you’ll notice the protagonists largely have one thing in common – they’re dressed to the nines.
If you want your loved one to look their best the next time they hit the casino floor, bestowing a bespoke outfit and a matching pair of shoes is the best way to go. Obviously, this is a pricier gift than many of the other options on the list, but it’ll last a lifetime when done right.
You can go with the classic sophisticated James Bond look, or the more subdued modern stylings of Danny Ocean, whatever style fits your recipient best.
Conclusion
Giving to the ones we love most is a cherished tradition this time of year, no matter a person’s religious beliefs or holiday traditions. Simply recognizing what somebody you care about needs, but never knew they wanted, is a thrilling experience when pulled off right.
If you have a gambling fan in your life, their hobby’s inclusive nature can often make this a difficult ask though. After all, the world of casino gamblers is eclectic to say the least. Knowing that, I hope the lists provided make gift-giving easier this year, and in years to come.
Christmas can be both a joyous occasion as well as the most maddening event of all year. The joy is from the Christmas festivities such as large family gatherings that generally have a potluck theme, hot chocolate while tending a crackling fire to drive away the winter cold, caroling in the neighborhood while having apple cider as well as trimming the good ole Christmas tree. The maddening part of Christmas and I’m sure everyone can attest to this, would be Christmas gift shopping.
How does one buy the perfect gift for their special someone or even just for the local postman to represent how much you appreciate their presence in your life (I appreciate my postman delivering the mail regardless of weather: wind, sleet and snow).
This task is even harder when it comes to someone that enjoys a night at the casino. Giving them money seems so insincere even though it might be the gift that they actually would enjoy the most.
Well, since you’re a gambler, what would you want for Christmas?
This depends on style. The arrival of high-speed, mobile internet has seen some head online to gamble. While online casinos do reward gamblers with casino bonuses that give out extra money for a deposit, you can’t give these as a gift to others.
NOTE: If you’re a gambler who fancies playing online then you can learn more by heading to Casino-Professor which is a great resource for all things online casino. They have a variety of different casino bonuses to choose from so you can take your pick from their current selection.
Therefore, in this article, we’ll be looking at a variety of physical gifts only that are useful for in-person gambling. As there are many different types of gamblers out there, we’ve done our best to give you a wide mix of choices.
Fat Cat Tri-Fold Poker Game Table Top
Now isn’t this the coolest thing? I saw some pictures of a whole group of friends playing Texas Holdem the other night and they were using one of these! Place it on top of your dining room table and you’re good to go! It’s pricey – but I can see it being worth the investment. Buy on Amazon here ->
Deluxe Craps Dice Table
I know for Christmas, the ultimate Christmas gift would be something that relates to the casino; for me it’s a regulation size craps table.
What? Why?
For me having a regulation craps table would allow me the ability to practice my craft as a shooter at the craps table. The whole point of visiting the casino is to take a chance to try to leave with more money that what you had when you arrived. The casino has rules and regulations to try to shade the win percentage in favour of themselves in all manners of games expect craps. The odds don’t change. The bet payout remains the same regardless how high or how low you choose to bet. The casino’s distinct advantage when it comes to craps is the lack of practice a player would have playing the game. Wouldn’t you want to gift the gambler in your life the ability to even the odds with the casino; give him or her the ability to practice for countless hours to hone their skills to try to take down the casino?
The table pictured here is on Amazon – who knew Amazon sold regulation sized craps tables?
Of course, we know not everyone can afford, or fit, a full size craps table. Here are a few more suggestions for what to give your special card lover:
Gold Foil Playing Cards
Why settle for the ordinary when you can have the extraordinary. Everyone has playing cards for a quick game of blackjack or poker; make it a real festival evening of glitz and glamor with gold foiled playing cards. They’re definitely a conversation starter! Find them on Amazon here
Card Shuffler
Gift one of these card shufflers under their Christmas tree and they’ll thank you during those action packed house games! Psst – kids love these too. You can find some on our Card Accessories page and while you’re there check out the very fine card decks and card boxes.
Acrylic Case for Poker Chips
Our personal favourite. Nothing gets the juices flowing like attending a top notched house game than when the host displays all the goodies. Make your host the talk of the town with an acrylic case for their poker chips. Find on Amazon here.
Card Suit Jewelry
Card players love style, especially in a casino where everyone is looking at them. Your casino loving friend will appreciate any card-themed jewelry and there are so many lovely items – we’ve got a bunch of them featured on our Jewellry page. Click here.
Other Suggestions
We’ve run out of room but wanted to leave you with a few more ideas. How about a portable charger for those hours at the table; a lovely watch is one of the best accessories a poker player can have; noise-blocking headphones; RunGoodGear, the brand that has been seen every year on the WSOP Main Event Rail; anything from NoMercyMaking collection and finally, you can’t go wrong with a good book. Here is a good list of the world’s most popular Blackjack books.
