It became an instant hit, and to this day is considered a classic gambling book. It was the first detailed revelation of the secrets of cardsharps. Other authors prior to Maskelyne had written about crooked gambling, but never had anyone published a work with in-depth, detailed explanations of the secrets of crooked gambling.
It immediately gained popularity, and to this day is regarded as a timeless gambling book. It was the first comprehensive disclosure of the techniques employed by cardsharps. Other writers prior to Maskelyne had discussed dishonest gambling, but none had published an in-depth analysis of the methods used by dishonest gamblers.