Excerpt from the Prologue of Mr. Z

March 15, 1980

“Mr. Z”, the highest roller in craps at Atlantic City’s Resorts International Casino is on a winning streak. At his fingertips lie rows of green $500 chips and black $100 chips, the proceed of 20 rolls of the dice… He surveys his chips totaling $22,500 spread across the table, a combination of bets that would be worth over $87,800 today.  If he rolls a 7, he loses it all.

The knots of spectators, four rows deep around the table, clap as the croupier rakes in the dice; the dealer slides the winnings to Mr. Z, as David Zarin is known to everyone in Atlantic City.

David Zarin cuts a handsome figure at six feet tall with curly salt-and pepper hair; but it’s his magnetic personality and aggressive gambling style that always draws a crowd to his table.  The bigger the crowds, the bigger the profits for the casino.  So, Resorts owners and managers work hard to keep him coming back.  At this time, he’s the biggest gambler on a sustained basis anywhere in the world.

Flushed, sweating and euphoric, Dave punches the air, soaking up the attention and excitement of the crowd.  The woman in pink is beaming and stroking his shoulder.  He’s never felt more alive.

“Craps”, he says, “is better than sex.”