This complete and remarkable history of gambling in Wheeling begins with the origins of odds and evens as an old fortune telling "game" and ends shortly after the death of "Big Bill" Lias. Minder, historian-turned-detective, gets credit not only for his care in recounting the evolution of gambling in the Wheeling area, but also for gambling in local Native American cultures. In the same way, he assesses the attitudes of religion regarding the human tendency to gamble. Minder describes the rules of various games and the stories of famous and not-so-famous players. He also investigates the reasons people gamble and methods of cheating. Government-sponsored gambling is also explored.