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Poker Wars: Murder, Mayhem, and the Bloody History that Led to the World Series of Poker
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26Murder and mayhem, bullets and bombings, carnage and corruption…and a whole lot of outlaws gambling for the highest stakes of all.
Poker Wars tells the true story of the hitmen, cat burglars, and mobsters who brought about the internationally successful World Series of Poker.
The World Series of Poker, the sport’s most popular and lucrative event, had its inaugural event in 1970. Poker Wars chronicles the history of the gritty key players and the violent conflicts that brought the game from the Dallas underbelly to the bright lights of Las Vegas and turned it into the billion-dollar industry it is today.
Offering an in-depth exploration of the nearly inconceivable life stories of the sport’s pioneers—especially those of “The Cowboy,” Benny Binion, an illiterate horse trader turned gambling boss who was as quick-tempered as he was business savvy—Poker Wars is a thorough breakdown of the sequence of events that dug up the sport from infamy. With new insights, Guitar and Martyka offer a behind-the-scenes look into some of the most well-known conflicts in poker history, including Binion’s feud with Herbert Noble, who earned the nickname “The Catman” when the ninth attempt at killing him was the one that finally stuck. They also present an accurate portrayal of the colorful personalities of Texas Circuit players Johnny Moss and Doyle Brunson, who upped the ante by introducing a brand new variant of the game.
At once an expose of the darker side of the tournament’s early legacy and its consequences, and a wild, colorful, outlandish tale, Poker Wars is a true crime joyride.
Poker Wars tells the true story of the hitmen, cat burglars, and mobsters who brought about the internationally successful World Series of Poker.
The World Series of Poker, the sport’s most popular and lucrative event, had its inaugural event in 1970. Poker Wars chronicles the history of the gritty key players and the violent conflicts that brought the game from the Dallas underbelly to the bright lights of Las Vegas and turned it into the billion-dollar industry it is today.
Offering an in-depth exploration of the nearly inconceivable life stories of the sport’s pioneers—especially those of “The Cowboy,” Benny Binion, an illiterate horse trader turned gambling boss who was as quick-tempered as he was business savvy—Poker Wars is a thorough breakdown of the sequence of events that dug up the sport from infamy. With new insights, Guitar and Martyka offer a behind-the-scenes look into some of the most well-known conflicts in poker history, including Binion’s feud with Herbert Noble, who earned the nickname “The Catman” when the ninth attempt at killing him was the one that finally stuck. They also present an accurate portrayal of the colorful personalities of Texas Circuit players Johnny Moss and Doyle Brunson, who upped the ante by introducing a brand new variant of the game.
At once an expose of the darker side of the tournament’s early legacy and its consequences, and a wild, colorful, outlandish tale, Poker Wars is a true crime joyride.
- GenresNonfiction
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 11, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to Crooked Lane for a complimentary arc of Poker Wars. All opinions expressed are my own.*
I wasn’t sure what I expected from this book, but after about twenty mornings of reading a chapter with my morning coffee, I’m kinda bummed I ran out of chapters.
Poker Wars is more than a non-fiction book retelling the history of poker. It brings you the true crime history behind it, and all the mayhem that came with it. As a true crime aficionado and a former poker hobbyist, I couldn’t have had more fun with this. The only part of the tale I struggled with, is trying to grasp how I never had heard of any of it previously.
The authors managed to compile the story in a compelling and rich way, which was both easy to follow and hook your interest, and write it in a prose that felt fitting for the time and the theme. The way the book got split into parts with their own poker-related theme to fit the events unfurling in the next chapters made me smile in appreciation, and it all was just compiled in a perfect smooth way - you don’t feel like any of the chapters are holding unnecessary information, and it doesn’t feel too heavy.
If you want a true crime story detailing a dark part of American cultural history, and/or enjoy any gambling vices - pick this one up as soon as it’s been released. You won’t regret it.
I wasn’t sure what I expected from this book, but after about twenty mornings of reading a chapter with my morning coffee, I’m kinda bummed I ran out of chapters.
Poker Wars is more than a non-fiction book retelling the history of poker. It brings you the true crime history behind it, and all the mayhem that came with it. As a true crime aficionado and a former poker hobbyist, I couldn’t have had more fun with this. The only part of the tale I struggled with, is trying to grasp how I never had heard of any of it previously.
The authors managed to compile the story in a compelling and rich way, which was both easy to follow and hook your interest, and write it in a prose that felt fitting for the time and the theme. The way the book got split into parts with their own poker-related theme to fit the events unfurling in the next chapters made me smile in appreciation, and it all was just compiled in a perfect smooth way - you don’t feel like any of the chapters are holding unnecessary information, and it doesn’t feel too heavy.
If you want a true crime story detailing a dark part of American cultural history, and/or enjoy any gambling vices - pick this one up as soon as it’s been released. You won’t regret it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free copy of, Poker Wars, by Phillip Guitar; Jim Martyka, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Im not a big gambler at all. This book is about The World Series of Poker, the history of it and some big players. It was a fairly interesting read, for someone who does not play poker.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews