Jean Scott started out life as the daughter of a minister, raised to believe that thriftiness was next to godliness. In 1983, after raising her family and retiring from teaching high-school English, Jean visited Las Vegas for the first time and thought she’d died and gone to bargain heaven. Her life-long propensity for frugality was fully stimulated by the ubiquitous bargains, coupons, and promotions of the gambling town.
Not only that, but the love of games and the competitive spirit she’d developed in early childhood were challenged in the casino. By studying the available literature and practicing intensely, Jean learned how to gamble smart — first at blackjack, then at video poker. By trial and error and an eagle eye for deals, she figured out how to use the rating and players club systems so well that she began getting all of her meals and hotel rooms comped by the casinos, without being a high roller. One year she and her husband Brad stayed 191 days in casino-hotels without paying a single room charge or food bill.
Finally, after 15 years of on-the-job experience, during which she and Brad learned how to win more than they lost in a casino, she combined her love for teaching and writing by penning the best-seller gambling book The Frugal Gambler. This practical non-technical book became the leading casino guide for thrifty low rollers, in which she stresses sensible and responsible gambling and shows how to stretch out casino fun time no matter how small a person’s gambling bankroll might be. The Frugal Gambler catapulted to #2 (can’t beat that little wizard Harry Potter) on amazon.com’s bestseller list after Jean and Brad’s story was told on an episode of “Dateline NBC.”
Next came a sequel, More Frugal Gambling, which added information for players who are serious about improving their gambling results. She also brought out Tax Help for Gamblers, a practical guide to help gamblers cope with the complex regulations of the IRS. Frugal Video Poker is a complete how-to guide for video poker players at all levels, from beginners to the experienced, and a helpful companion to that book is The Frugal Video Poker Scouting Guide. Her most recent book is The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide, updating the information to help gamblers adjust to the present rapidly changing casino environment.
Jean Scott’s exploits have been featured in newspaper and magazines articles and on the radio, not only all over the U.S., but overseas as well. She has frequently appeared on TV: on local news shows, on the Learning and Discovery Channels, and even in travel features on British telly. She was a contestant in the World Series of Blackjack on GSN. She and Brad were regulars on Travel Channel shows about Vegas and gambling. Besides “Dateline,” she was seen nationally on “Hard Copy,” “Extra,” and “To Tell the Truth.” When she won a new Mercury Mystique in a casino drawing while being filmed for “48 Hours,” Dan Rather dubbed her the “Queen of Comps.”
In case you want some more details on Jean and Brad’s 35 years of doing casino life frugally, click here for other resources that describe their amazing journey down the path of successful gambling.
At the end of 2019, the frugal gamblers retired from casino action. Jean, now 81, and Brad, 87 and in failing health, moved to GA to be near relatives, with Jean planning to continue her gaming writing “as long as she has something valuable to say.”
The best way to continue seeing Jean Scott’s writings now that she’s retired from blogging, is on her public Jean Scott Facebook page. There, she posts photos, answers questions, reports on casino news, and shares smart-gambling information for which she’s always searching. Go to her Facebook page and request to be her friend!
 Frugal Gambler Casino GuideA timeless treatment of the foundation of frugal gambling The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide is a comprehensive update on the low-roller concepts for casino gambling covered in the first two Frugal books. It covers all the casino games, tables and machines, with instructions on how to play longer by losing less. And detailed guidance on everyday arithmetic in game selection and playing decisions, proper use of the players club systems with an emphasis on comps and other free stuff, and taking advantage of promotions will help recreational gamblers accrue the perks that all casino enthusiasts dream about: staying free at hotel-casinos, eating and drinking on the house, and gambling at a profit. It is also available as an e-book, which you can download directly for your Kindle, Nook, or Apple device. Order from Las Vegas Advisor! |
 Tax Help for Gamblersby Jean Scott & Marissa Chien ,Tax Help for Gamblers, first published in 2007, this new 4th edition, with updates from Russell Fox, deals with the innumerable nuances and gray areas of gambling and taxes. It covers all the whys and wherefores of this complex subject, including tax-code specifics, record-keeping, filing your tax return, state-tax considerations, and audits and other tax problems. Numerous charts and forms help you see the practical application of the information. It is also available as an e-book, which you can download directly for your Kindle, Nook, or Apple device. Order from Las Vegas Advisor! |
 The Frugal Video Poker Scouting Guideby Jean Scott & Viktor Nacht. With nearly 200 of the most common VP pay schedules, the expected return for each pay schedule, information on progressives, and much more, The Frugal Video Poker Scouting Guide is a necessary tool for any VP player. Order from Las Vegas Advisor! |
 Frugal Video PokerCo-authored by Viktor Nacht, Frugal Video Poker is the most comprehensive book ever written on practicing, playing, and winning at this popular casino game. Video poker is beatable when you know what pay schedules to look for and how to play when you find them. Whether you want to play for profit or merely make your money last longer in a casino, Frugal Video Poker will take you where you want to go. Order from Las Vegas Advisor! |
 The Frugal Gambler, 2nd ed.The book that started it all! In this completely updated and revised second edition to her gambling classic, The Frugal Gambler, author Jean Scott brings readers up to speed on changes relative to today’s casino scene. The new edition reveals her ongoing accomplishments as a low-rolling player, as well as tips she’s gleaned from being a full-time Las Vegas resident. Order from Las Vegas Advisor! |
 More Frugal GamblingEven more great tips and tricks!Jean covers all the hot spots of enlightened casino play, including the ins and outs of slot clubs, bounce-back, and comps; finding and participating in promotions and tournaments; developing hosts; using coupons; and the A to Zs of playing video poker. Special sections from Jean’s daughter, Angela, provide tips for beginners and low rollers. Order from Las Vegas Advisor! |