Acknowledgments

I had the help and support of many individuals in writing this book, partly from encouraging and informative conversations, partly from interviews, and partly from constructive suggestions and essential corrections. First, I thank my wife, Jennifer, who read the complete manuscript several times making editorial as well as practical and structural suggestions. She is my greatest support, anchor, and inspiration.

I am exceedingly grateful to the Rockefeller Foundation for an idyllic residency at the Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, which provided everything a writer could wish for to finish a book: magnificent surroundings, curious and inspiring colleagues, and generous service to bring one to the peak of productivity. In particular, I thank Elena Ongania, Pilar Palacia, and Rubin Puentes for making my stay at the Villa so productive and extraordinarily enjoyable.

With enormous appreciation, to my wonderful colleagues at the Villa Serbelloni who took interest in this project and who contributed so many invaluable ideas: James Brown, Courtney Brkic, Richard Bunce, Deane Calhoun, Lewis Cohen, Mauricio Figueiras, Sonia Jabbar, Rudolph Klein, Kannan Krishnan, Philip Levine, Janis Mattox, Judith Pfeiffer, Bobby Previte, Antony Taubman, Du Yaxiong, and Monica Youn.

Just when I thought I was finished with the book, Peter Madonia of the Rockefeller Foundation suggested that I include a section relating the 2008 economic crisis to risky gambling. Chapter 12 is the result of his terrific suggestion. Thank you, Peter.

Very special thanks to my editor, Vickie Kearn, at Princeton University Press, whose insightful suggestions and careful editing significantly improved the book. To Debbie Tegarden, my production editor, who with wit and humor tolerated my extensive revisions to the end. To Carmina Alvarez, Jenn Backer, Anna Pierrehumbert, Jennifer Roth, and Stefani Wexler (the production staff of editorial assistants, copyeditors, and designers), for taking such good care of the production side of this book and making it as beautiful as it appears here.

Very special thanks go to my expert consultants in gambling addictions: Jeffery Derevensky, Seth Eisenberg, Sarah E. Nelson, Keith Whyte, and Vickii Williams.

To Guido Baltussen, Sorina Eftim, Damon Rein, George Sulimirski, James Tober, and Steve Wynn.

To all my wonderfully supportive friends who have listened to my many stories; to Anne Wheelock for devotedly forwarding relevant news material; and to my constant inspirations for executing good work: Tadatoshi Akiba and William Bown.

As always, I am beholden to the enormously competent Marlboro College library staff, Radmila Ballada, James Fein, Kathleen Packard, Aidan Sammis, and Bonnie White, for gracious and expert assistance in finding cross-referenced material and interlibrary loans with such good cheer, often after hours.

To my brother Barry and sisters-in-law Carole Joffe and Gretchen Mazur, for their constant encouragement.