Professional gambler John Patrick sets his sites on Internet casinos and sports betting in his 15th book on gambling, John Patrick's Internet Gambling.

Patrick begins with the question on every first-time Internet gambler's mind: "Is Internet gambling safe?" The answer, according to Patrick, is "yes." Patrick says he played a number of online casinos as research, never got stiffed, and will continue to play online casinos.

In this 180 page book, which sells for $12.95, Patrick offers plenty of useful general gambling advice, including important tips on loss limits, win goals and other money management issues. But perhaps the best advice Patrick gives is to buy in small when playing at a new casino so you can test their credibility. Or as Patrick puts it, "Test the water with your toe, before you dive in." Sound advice.

This is not a book for hardcore Internet gamblers. It's thin on detail and doesn't mention even one Web site by name. Instead, the book is geared for people who have never gambled online before, but may consider giving it a shot -- Patrick provides comfort to those land-based gamblers who have considered dabbling in the online game.

Patrick is to be commended for his approach. This is one of the most honest accounts of one person's experience with Internet gambling that I have ever read. There are no advertisements, no shameless plugs, no ulterior motives. Just one expert gambler telling you about his real-life experiences with Internet gambling.