Huntington Press releases new book Advantage Players

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Huntington Press, a Las Vegas-based publisher known for its groundbreaking gaming and casino industry titles, has announced the release of Advantage Players, a high-stakes, behind-the-scenes look at the world of elite players and life’s ultimate strategists, written by acclaimed journalist Michael Kaplan.

Kaplan, who’s been dubbed “the GOAT” of writers in the industry, has spent decades immersed in the world of advantage players, or APs —the term for those who beat casinos, racetracks, and oddsmakers by using brains, audacity, and skill. In Advantage Players, he brings readers into the rarefied world of these big-league bettors, profiling the game’s most fascinating and elusive winners.

Among them are poker legend Phil Ivey, baccarat phenom Kelly Sun, the man who broke Atlantic City for $15 million, Don Johnson, and John Chang, mastermind behind the real-life MIT blackjack team that inspired the film 21. Kaplan also features Mattress Mack, the Houston furniture magnate who parlayed his sports betting acumen into global fame.

But Advantage Players goes far beyond casino carpets and felt tables. Kaplan explores life’s other games — and the real-world players who win them. Readers will meet an L.A. art dealer who redefined the market, a Las Vegas stripper making $300,000 a year, the lawyer who got Mike Tyson out of jail, illusionist David Blaine, and filmmakers the Safdie brothers, known for their gritty, high-anxiety storytelling.

The book also delves into the gray areas of advantage play, revealing those who push ethical boundaries in pursuit of winning, from ingenious scams to illicit grabs for cash. Throughout, Kaplan’s reporting is unflinching, insightful, and thrilling.

“Advantage Players is the culmination of a career spent chasing down the world’s smartest, boldest winners,” Kaplan said. “Whether they’re counting cards or navigating the art world, they share a drive to beat the system and win on their own terms.”

Kaplan is a Brooklyn-based writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Wired, and GQ. He is currently a senior features writer at the New York Post and pens the gambling column for Cigar Aficionado. He has authored five books. His article on baccarat queen Kelly Sun is being adapted into a feature film, with Awkwafina attached to star.