Raising the Stakes: True Tales of Gambling, Wagering and Poker Faces
Overview
Poker has been on a boom for almost a decade now, and writer Sean Chaffin’s new book Raising the Stakes: True Tales of Gambling, Wagering and Poker Faces offers up stories of gambling and poker’s unique history and lore. From underground games in Dallas to tales of the World Series of Poker to crazy stories like wagering at a Puerto Rican cockfight, Raising the Stakes features something for everyone interested in gambling, poker, or history in general. “There is just such a unique history and lore to gambling and poker,” he says. “Some of these stories are really out of the mainstream and not too well-known. I just know there is an audience out there like me, who love that unique poker culture.” Some of the book’s features include: • The Top O’ the Hill casino, an underground casino in Arlington, Texas, that was a forerunner to today’s modern casinos. The story of how it was raided by law enforcement and eventually turned into a seminary is one of a kind. • Jack Strauss – his comeback story at the World Series of Poker spawned the phrase: “All you need is a chip and chair.” Many know the phrase, but not the larger than life story of this amazing poker player, gambler, and big game hunter. • The Amvets Club in Dallas – an underground poker room where many of the World Series of Poker’s greatest players got their start. That history includes a gripping robbery and raid by law enforcement. • And many more. In recent years, Sean’s work and coverage of the industry have appeared in many publications including Poker Pro, World Poker Tour magazine, American Cowboy, Hooters magazine, Fort Worth magazine, H magazine in Houston, Poker Europa, Poker Player Newspaper, and more. He has interviewed and covered some of the biggest names and events in the poker world. For the last year, he has been a contributor to Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Canadian Poker Player magazines. For several years, Sean has served as monthly crime writer for Advocate magazines in Dallas. He also owned a weekly newspaper in Rockwall, Texas, for five years. Chaffin grew up in Crandall, Texas, playing poker in his father’s regular poker games. He is a native Texan who attended Texas A&M University, majoring in journalism and English. He now lives in Rockwall, Texas, with his wife Kathy and daughters Marie and Chloe. Beyond his magazine writing, Sean is editor of www.PokerTraditions.com, a site all about poker history, lore, and people. The site is re-launching with the book’s release. ***** “Raising the Stakes takes readers from the saloons and back rooms of poker's early days to the high-stakes tables and televised tournaments of today. Its entertaining anecdotes and insider’s perspective will leave even casual players itching to play a few hands.” – Tom Wilmes, Deputy Editor, American Cowboy magazine “Sean’s writing offers a unique insight into poker's past, present, and future.” – Antonio Esfandiari, poker pro and ESPN World Series of Poker commentator “Sean Chaffin has a unique insight into casinos and gambling and is one of the go-to writers in the poker world.” – John “Johnny Quads” Wenzel, Editor-in-Chief, Poker Pro magazine “Sean Chaffin is a lot more than a journalist. He's an incredible writer who understands the casino and gaming industry on a very deep level. When I need to assign a big story, I contact Sean.” – Rob Wiser, Editor, Casino Player magazine “Sean Chaffin is one of my favorite writers for many reasons but mostly because he’s a great story-teller. Lots of people can write but only the best can tell stories as if you were sitting around the campfire.” – Paul K. Harral, Executive Editor, Fort Worth, Texas magazine “Sean has a unique voice that captures the seriousness of stories while also injecting bits of humor and irony. He does a good job of collecting oodles of information and condensing it into easily digestible short articles.” – Christina Hughes Babb, Managing Editor, Advocate magazines-DallasDescription
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
Poker has been on a boom for almost a decade now, and writer Sean Chaffin’s new book Raising the Stakes: True Tales of Gambling, Wagering and Poker Faces offers up stories of gambling and poker’s unique history and lore. From underground games in Dallas to tales of the World Series of Poker to crazy stories like wagering at a Puerto Rican cockfight, Raising the Stakes features something for everyone interested in gambling, poker, or history in general. “There is just such a unique history and lore to gambling and poker,” he says. “Some of these stories are really out of the mainstream and not too well-known. I just know there is an audience out there like me, who love that unique poker culture.” Some of the book’s features include: • The Top O’ the Hill casino, an underground casino in Arlington, Texas, that was a forerunner to today’s modern casinos. The story of how it was raided by law enforcement and eventually turned into a seminary is one of a kind. • Jack Strauss – his comeback story at the World Series of Poker spawned the phrase: “All you need is a chip and chair.” Many know the phrase, but not the larger than life story of this amazing poker player, gambler, and big game hunter. • The Amvets Club in Dallas – an underground poker room where many of the World Series of Poker’s greatest players got their start. That history includes a gripping robbery and raid by law enforcement. • And many more. In recent years, Sean’s work and coverage of the industry have appeared in many publications including Poker Pro, World Poker Tour magazine, American Cowboy, Hooters magazine, Fort Worth magazine, H magazine in Houston, Poker Europa, Poker Player Newspaper, and more. He has interviewed and covered some of the biggest names and events in the poker world. For the last year, he has been a contributor to Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Canadian Poker Player magazines. For several years, Sean has served as monthly crime writer for Advocate magazines in Dallas. He also owned a weekly newspaper in Rockwall, Texas, for five years. Chaffin grew up in Crandall, Texas, playing poker in his father’s regular poker games. He is a native Texan who attended Texas A&M University, majoring in journalism and English. He now lives in Rockwall, Texas, with his wife Kathy and daughters Marie and Chloe. Beyond his magazine writing, Sean is editor of www.PokerTraditions.com, a site all about poker history, lore, and people. The site is re-launching with the book’s release. ***** “Raising the Stakes takes readers from the saloons and back rooms of poker's early days to the high-stakes tables and televised tournaments of today. Its entertaining anecdotes and insider’s perspective will leave even casual players itching to play a few hands.” – Tom Wilmes, Deputy Editor, American Cowboy magazine “Sean’s writing offers a unique insight into poker's past, present, and future.” – Antonio Esfandiari, poker pro and ESPN World Series of Poker commentator “Sean Chaffin has a unique insight into casinos and gambling and is one of the go-to writers in the poker world.” – John “Johnny Quads” Wenzel, Editor-in-Chief, Poker Pro magazine “Sean Chaffin is a lot more than a journalist. He's an incredible writer who understands the casino and gaming industry on a very deep level. When I need to assign a big story, I contact Sean.” – Rob Wiser, Editor, Casino Player magazine “Sean Chaffin is one of my favorite writers for many reasons but mostly because he’s a great story-teller. Lots of people can write but only the best can tell stories as if you were sitting around the campfire.” – Paul K. Harral, Executive Editor, Fort Worth, Texas magazine “Sean has a unique voice that captures the seriousness of stories while also injecting bits of humor and irony. He does a good job of collecting oodles of information and condensing it into easily digestible short articles.” – Christina Hughes Babb, Managing Editor, Advocate magazines-DallasDescription
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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