American Gambling and Gamblers: Fools of Fortune

Revealing the glitter and ruin of a nation’s obsession, American Gambling and Gamblers: Fools of Fortune by John Philip Quinn is a remarkable exposé of vice, temptation, and moral decay in late nineteenth-century America. Written by a former gambler turned reformer, the book offers an insider’s view of the gambling dens, betting halls, and lotteries that flourished across the country, drawing men and women alike into the perilous pursuit of luck.

Quinn exposes the mechanics of deceit and addiction behind the games of chance—from roulette and faro to horse racing and policy shops—while recounting stories of ruined fortunes, broken families, and moral downfall. Yet beyond its warnings, his narrative serves as a social and psychological study, revealing gambling as both a personal weakness and a symptom of a restless, profit-driven age.

At once documentary and moral appeal, this work remains a landmark in the history of American reform literature, capturing the tension between temptation and virtue that defined a rapidly modernizing society.

Complete edition of John Philip Quinn’s 19th-century exposé on gambling and vice

Chronicles America’s gambling culture, from saloons to high-stakes casinos

Combines moral critique with sociological and historical insight

Essential for readers of social history, reform movements, and American vice literature