Stanley Sludikoff, a groundbreaking publisher who printed the first gaming and the first poker magazines, passed away March 12 at the age of 80 after a long battle with leukemia. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Ann Blumberg Sludikoff, and three children. Services are scheduled for Wednesday at Mt. Sinai in the Hollywood Hills.

Sludikoff, who studied architecture and retired from the U.S. Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel, started the first-ever gaming magazine, Gambling Times, published monthly more than 30 years ago. It later became Win magazine, which focused on blackjack. Sludikoff also published several blackjack books under the pen name Stanley Roberts and for a time conducted classes on the art of counting cards. He also published numerous gaming books written by various authors.

Sludikoff launched Poker Player soon after, first in magazine format and later as a weekly newspaper. It eventually succumbed to the financial pressures brought on by internet publishing sites and decline in advertising revenues after online gaming was shut down on Black Friday, but has continued in electronic form.

Gambling Times and Poker Player, with its comprehensive coverage of the world of gaming and stories of legendary gambling figures of the time, was in the forefront of helping to popularize poker, blackjack and other casino games.

Sludikoff had ties with numerous casino executives, ran poker cruises, sponsored various poker tournaments and earlier in his career was part of a blackjack card-counting team.

Top 10 NO deposit Bonus offers @

Read More... [Source: CardPlayer Poker News]