Gambling: The Dazzling Art of the Con

Sat Oct 11 2025 at 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm UTC-05:00

Dekalb Public Library | DeKalb

DeKalb Public Library
Publisher/HostDeKalb Public Library
Gambling: The Dazzling Art of the Con John presents a fascinating and often hysterical look at crooked card games, dice hustles, pickpockets, prop bets, and con games.
About this Event

This event does not require registration.

Gambling generates more revenue than spectator sports, theme parks, cruise ships and recorded music combined. Las Vegas casinos bring in an average of 5 billion dollars of revenue in a year. With all that money flying around it might occur to someone to cheat. It has, they do, and John P. Hopkins will show you some of the ways that it's done.

John presents a fascinating and often hysterical look at crooked card games, dice hustles, pickpockets, prop bets, and con games. He will give you an inside peek at these scams with actual demonstrations. Through John, you will meet advantage players, dips, and con artists such as George Devil (who worked the Mississippi River boats for over forty years), Elijah Skaggs, "Titanic Thompson" and Madame Mustache.

See the dazzling art of the “advantage” card player and the ace pick pocket. Get an inside look at some of the classic swindles such as “3 Card Monte”, “The Old Army Game” and “Short-Change Routines.” Find out the secrets of rigged carnival games and learn the truth behind the phrases, “You can’t cheat an honest man” and “There’s no such thing as a free lunch!”

This program is free and open to all; no registration is required.

For additional information, please contact Samantha at [email protected] or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

Event Venue

Dekalb Public Library, 309 Oak Street, DeKalb, United States

Tickets

USD 0.00

Sharing is Caring:

More Events in Dekalb

Open Studio
Fri, 10 Oct at 06:00 pm Open Studio

235 E. Lincoln HWY, DeKalb, IL, United States, Illinois 60115

Breakfast Buffet at Hy-Vee: 10\/11
Sat, 11 Oct at 08:00 am Breakfast Buffet at Hy-Vee: 10/11

2700 Dekalb Ave, Sycamore, IL 60178

Yaeger's Fall Festival
Sat, 11 Oct at 09:00 am Yaeger's Fall Festival

14643 IL Route 38, DeKalb, IL, United States, Illinois 60115

Hygge (HOO-gah) Happiness
Sat, 11 Oct at 10:00 am Hygge (HOO-gah) Happiness

309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL, United States, Illinois 60115

Coffee & Comics Part 1: Character Design with Grace
Sat, 11 Oct at 10:00 am Coffee & Comics Part 1: Character Design with Grace

128 E. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, IL, United States, Illinois 60115

Dungeons & Dragons
Sat, 11 Oct at 01:00 pm Dungeons & Dragons

309 Oak St, DeKalb, IL, United States, Illinois 60115

Glidden Tinker Time: Clothespin Dolls
Sat, 11 Oct at 03:00 pm Glidden Tinker Time: Clothespin Dolls

J. F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center

Fall Family Sesaion
Sat, 11 Oct at 04:30 pm Fall Family Sesaion

Elwood House Museum & Park

A Performance of Music from the Middle East
Sat, 11 Oct at 06:30 pm A Performance of Music from the Middle East

Dekalb Public Library

KSO's Fall Concert: Petrushka and "Moor"
Sat, 11 Oct at 07:30 pm KSO's Fall Concert: Petrushka and "Moor"

550 Lucinda Avenue, Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, DeKalb, IL

3rd Annual HuskieMotorsports Car Show
Sun, 12 Oct at 12:00 pm 3rd Annual HuskieMotorsports Car Show

Northern Illinois University

Tween\/Teen Chess Club
Mon, 13 Oct at 03:30 pm Tween/Teen Chess Club

DeKalb Public Library

Dekalb is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Dekalb Events