The game of
craps is traditionally played with a pair of dice but now there are variations of the game that is played with specially marked
playing cards or traditional playing cards to simulate the roll of the dice. We will look at the games of craps and
card craps here and discuss developments with craps and card craps -- with and without throwing dice. And
if you have some things you'd like to share, tell us about them in our Las Vegas discussion Forum by clicking here.
SCOSSA DICE GAME GETS SOME CHANGES, AND A NEW CASINO HAS
IT
Update November 29, 2011 Brill Entertainment has announced that its new Scossa™ dice game will start to be offered
on Friday, December 2nd at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. This new dice game offers simple rules that appeal to those intimidated
to play craps and has been compared to playing roulette with dice and a layout instead of a wheel with a layout. Brill
Entertainment calls it "the most revolutionary dice game to be introduced into the gaming market."
The company says that Scossa "preserves the excitement,
speed of play and table camaraderie of craps while embracing the simplicity of roulette. Players simply place chips
on one or more of the seven various betting options. Wagers are resolved on a single roll of the dice, keeping the pace
of play fast and exciting." Basically this means that all bets are "one roll bets" unlike a traditional
craps game where bets can stay "live" for many rolls of the dice.
There is one "jackpot bet" in the game and that is if three 7's are rolled
in a row. It happens in craps, so why not on this game?
Brill says some changes have been made to the layout since its original test at the Red Rock Casino,
but we are not sure what the changes are? We suspect that a controversial "dealer's bet" position on the layout
was removed. This bet position on the Scossa layout was the only bet position that we ever heard about that was marked
for the dealers. On other table games, players would put a bet for the dealers either on top of their own chips or next
to their chips.
Brill Entertainment
is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and says it wants to develop more casino games. It's website is www.BrillEntertainment.com and has more information about its products. Palace Station Hotel and Casino is located adjacent to Interstate 15, just west of the Las Vegas
Strip at 2411 W. Sahara Ave. Call (702) 367-2411 for more information.
NEW JERSEY'S PUBLISHED REGULATIONS FOR THROWING DICE, AND
WHY YOU WON'T FIND THEM FOR NEVADA
Update October 27, 2011
I just found this-- New Jersey's published regulations about throwing dice and what is considered a valid throw and what isn't
considered to be a valid throw. And, it's a bit different from what many craps players think-- and it actually differs
slightly from what regulators in Nevada told me. And I also just found out that you won't find the Nevada regulations printed
anywhere. More about that later.
But first, the New Jersey rules. Here
are the regulations as published by New Jersey regulators:
19:47-1.8 Throw
of the dice
Upon selection of the dice, the shooter shall make a Pass or Don't Pass Bet after which
he shall throw the two selected dice so that they leave his hand simultaneously and in a manner calculated to cause them to
strike the end of the table farthest from him.
19:47-1.9 Invalid
roll of the dice
(a) A roll of the dice shall be invalid whenever either or both of the dice go off the
table or whenever one die comes to rest on top of the other.
(b) The persons listed in (e) below shall
have the authority to invalidate a roll of the dice by calling "No Roll" for any of the following reasons:
1. The dice do not leave the shooter's hand simultaneously;
2. Either or both of the dice
fail to strike an end of the table;
3. Either or both of the dice come to rest on the chips constituting
the craps bank of chips located in front of the boxperson.
4. Either or both of the dice come to rest
in the dice cup in front of the craps stickperson, or in front of the the mini-craps dealer or stickperson, or on one of the
rails surrounding the table;
5. The use of a cheating, crooked or fixed device or technique in the roll
of the dice; and,
6. For any other reason the craps boxperson or stickperson, or the mini-craps dealer
or stickperson considers the throw to be improper.
(c) The call of "No Roll" under either paragraphs
1, 2 or 6 of subsection (b) of this section shall, whenever possible, be made before both dice come to rest.
(d)
A throw of the dice which results in the dice coming into contact with any match play coupons or chips on the table, other
than the craps bank of chips located in front of the Boxman, shall not be a cause for a call of "No Roll".
(e) "No Roll" may be called:
1. In craps, by a boxperson or stickperson, as designated
by the casino licensee; and
2. In mini-craps, by the dealer, stickperson or floorperson, as designated
by the casino licensee.
As amended, effective: 06/20/94
As amended, effective: 08/05/96
As amended, effective: 03/17/97
Okay, the first thing that I read that
struck me as strange is the rule that a throw is invalid if "one die comes to rest
on top of the other." Really? I'm not sure I've ever seen
that happen, but it's easy to remove the top die to see what the bottom die is showing.
The
other regulation that strikes me as strange is this one:
6. For any other reason the craps
boxperson or stickperson, or the mini-craps dealer or stickperson considers the throw to be improper.
Whoa, Nellie! How about some consumer protection here, guys. This gives
the dealers and table crew a lot of leeway for calling a no roll. Does this mean the casinos in New Jersey
can require the dice to bounce off the back wall a minimum of two inches? Or four inches? Or, how about two feet?
What is curious is that the New Jersey regulations do not include the definition of a valid
throw that was given to me by Nevada regulators which says the dice must fly in the air, bounce off the table surface and
hit the back wall. Also, the New Jersey regulations make no mention of dice sliding. And there is no mention of
setting, controlled shooting, or dice hitting the back wall but failing to bounce off the back wall.
Now, of course, you want to know that the Nevada regulations are and you'd like to see them on the website of
the Nevada gaming regulators. Well, so do I. But when I phoned the Enforcement Division of the Nevada Gaming Commission,
Theresa Zellhoefer of the Encorcement Division told me that "Nevada operates differently" than New Jersey and Nevada
does not publish specific rules or regulations for the game of craps. "We established minimum controls," she
told me, and the casinos have to meet those minimums and they can exceed them, "and then we say okay."
Well, while this is surprising it still does not change what the NGC has said before about
what is a valid roll and what isn't. But if you are expecting to find it in black and white or on a web page -- you
won't.
IS THE "ODDS BET" REALLY THE BEST BET ON THE CRAPS
TABLE?
Update October 23, 2011 The odds bet on the
passline, and the odds bet on the come bets in craps, are often called the best bets on a craps table because they
have "no house advantage" and are paid "at true odds" with no edge or discount.
These are some of the technical terms used in playing craps and a craps newcomer should check to be sure they correctly understand
what house advantage and edge and true odds really mean.
While
the "odds bet" has no house advantage, not all odds bets have the same chance of winning -- and too many
players forget this when they go to a craps table with a limited bankroll.
Even though
the pass line odds bet on the 4 or 10 has no advantage for the house -- and also no advantage for the player -- the player
still only has a one in three chance of winning either the odds bet on the 4 and on the 10. Yes, the odds bets are paid
at the same true odds of three-to-one. What this means is you have a one in three chance of winning and you will get
paid three to one when you win -- so no advantage for the casino, and no advantage for the player either.
But I look at the odds bets differently, and perhaps if your bankroll is limited you are better off
betting only the passline or the don't pass with a house edge of only 1.4-percent, with place bets on the 6 and
8 which have a house edge just slightly higher than 1.4% and leave it at that.
The problem with making those hefty "odds bets" is when the point is more difficult to hit. Remember,
you will hit the 4 or 10 less often than you will hit the 6 and 8 or 5 and 9. Keep in mind that some casinos allow you
to bet as the odds as much as 100-times your original bet, while most allow for 3 times the original bet on the 4 and 10,
4 times odds on the 5 and 9, or 5 times the orginal bet when the 6 and 8 are the point.
If you have the bankroll to play the long term expected math, go ahead and bet the odds and by all means seek out
the casinos offering 100X odds.
My classic observation of the underfunded "odds
bettor" is this:
A young couple walks up to a $25 craps table with only $100.
They never played craps before and ask the dealer how to play.
"Put $25 on the
passline," the helpful dealer tells them. And they put one of their four green chips on the passline. The shooter throws the dice for the come out and the number 4 is rolled as the point. "What now?" the
young man asked. "Put down your $75 as odds -- it's the best bet on the table," the helpful dealer tell
them. And the remaining chips go as odds on the 4.
At this point, according
to the math of the game, the odds bet on the 4 is the best bet on the table because if it wins, it is paid at true odds, without
any commission or fee paid to the casino or withheld by the casino. But -- that's if it wins.
The shooter then starts a monster roll... the numbers 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 are rolled and repeated over
and over again. The rest of the table is raking in chips from their place bets on the numbers, but the young couple
with only a bet on the passline and full odds on the point of 4 stands and looks and waits for the point of 4 to hit. But
it never does.
And as the the chips are scooped away from the passline and the odds after
the 7 out, the young man says to the dealer "I thought you said it was the best bet on the table?"
Mathematically it was the best bet on the table but it was not a bet that was more likely to win.
Any of the inside numbers -- the 6 and 8, or 5 and 9 -- were more likely to be rolled than a 4 or its sister number the 10.
With a limited bankroll, that couple should have bet the passline and used their remaining chips either for come bets or hold
them for future passline bets, or to place perhaps a 6 or 8. The odds bet on the 4 was not the best bet on the table.
Well, that's how I see it. How about you? What's your idea of a good betting strategy at
craps? Please share your thoughts on our Forum page by clicking here.
HOW NOT TO LOSE YOUR BANKROLL AT A CRAPS TABLE
Update October 11, 2011 "How not to lose your bankroll at a craps table" is
indeed the title of this article but if you are expecting some sure-fire way to win at the game of craps, or it you are expecting
some betting system, or advice about dice influencing, then this article is not for you.
This
article is about your personal and financial safety at a craps table. It happens too many times-- players lose their
money at a craps table not because of the throw of the dice, but because someone steals their chips in the rail. So
here are some tips to protect your money.
1. Do what the casino does when arranging
your chips in your rail. Keep the higher denomination chips in the center with the lower denomination chips on either
side. Look at the box where the casino's chips are stacked. You will see the big money chips in the center, with
rows of lesser denomination chips on either side. You might see the $5,000 chips in the center, flanked by the $1,000
chips on either side, then the $500 chips and finally the $1 chips. Why? Because it is harder for a crook to get
at the center stacks. Use the same strategy with your chips in your rail.
2.
It is not against the rules to take your high denomination chips and put them in your pocket. The boxman or floorman
will frequently look at the chips in the players' rail positions to keep track of high denomination chips, but it's okay to
put them in your pocket. As a courtesy you can motion to the floorman that you are putting that yellow or purple chip
into your pocket. There is a side benefit to doing this, too, because it might keep you from betting it and losing it
after the chips in your rail are lost.
3. When it is your turn to shoot the
dice, shift the chips in your rail towards the direction you will be standing when you shoot the dice. This way, you
can keep an eye on your chips when you are getting ready to throw the dice and watching how your dice land.
4. Forget what the lyrics of the song say-- it's okay to count your chips at the table not only
so you can keep track of how you are doing, but also so you can be sure no one is taking chips away from you.
5. Be aware of others at your table. It's okay to put your hand over your chips when you
turn to order a drink from the cocktail waitress behind you, and it's okay to cover your chips when you turn to talk to another
player.
6. If you have to leave the table to visit a restroom, ask the boxman
or floorman or dealers to not only watch your chips but to cover them. Some casinos have a clear, plastic box that they
can cover your chips with. Traditionally, a towel is used to cover chips of a player.
7. Be aware of "friends" of other players who stand behind you. They could be there to distract
you so someone else can take a few chips. When a young, attractive, sexy woman comes to the table, and starts to talk
about your purple and yellow chips, it's time to be especially careful. (In some casinos yellow chips are $1,000 and purple
chips are $500.)
8. If you are playing large denomination chips you have every
right to ask the casino to have a guard standing by at the table to keep away sightseers. I was once at a table
where a player had more than a million dollars in chips in his rail, and there was a guard standing behind him.
9. Protect your position and be wary of others who want to squeeze in next to you when the table
is crowded and you have a lot of chips in your rail. That new player might be more attracted to your stack than to the
action of the dice.
10. If you can, play at a table where there is a full crew.
Some casinos have eliminated the boxman to save money. Unfortunately, the boxman also served as another pair of eyes
to not only protect the casino's interests but also the player's interests. I prefer to play at a casino that has the
full crew of three dealers plus a boxman and floorman watching and controlling the game. The more eyes the better.
Some casinos do things that players are not aware of to protect their games and to protect the dealers
and the players. Several years ago I was at Caesars Palace playing craps when a young player who had too much to drink
got into a shouting match with a dealer over a bet. The shouting escalated to the point that the player leaned over
the table to lunge at the dealer. And that's when three undercover security guards got up from nearby blackjack tables
and tackled the player. Yes, Caesars had undercover security people playing blackjack.
HOW MANY ILLEGAL THROWS CAN FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS OF DICE GAME
PROTECTION?
Update October 7, 2011 I originally posted this
on our Las Vegas Forum in the discussion about the dice sliding case at Wynn:
When I first heard about this case, I said to Tim O'Reiley of the Las Vegas Review Journal that it is up to the table
crew to "protect the game" by identifying an illegal dice slide and calling a "no roll."
Now
we find out that there were seven slides cited in the lawsuit. And on several other message boards and forums there have been
posts that somewhere between 8 and 12 employees at Wynn were fired over this dice sliding case. This begs the question: were
they fired because they were inept at identifying the illegal slides or for failing to protect the game, or were they involved
with the players in allowing the dice slides?
That is still the #1 question to decide this, I think. Because if
these "sliders" were regular patrons of the Wynn, these alleged 7 slides might represent only a tiny fraction of
the number of dice throws/rolls that these players made at Wynn over a period of days or weeks. And as we all know, a bad
throw or two or even seven, can fall in between the cracks of "game protection."
Consider these numbers:
The average craps shooter throws the dice 5 times per "hand" or turn with the dice. Each throw of the dice (turn)
takes 20 seconds, or three per minute. That's 180 throws of the dice per hour at a table, on average.
If these
alleged dice sliders played at a table with five other players (six total players) for a total of four hours per day, each
of these "alleged sliders" could have thrown the dice about 120 times per day. (180 throws per hour X 4 hours =
720 throws / 6 players = 120)
If these sliders played at the Wynn for 20 days, (and they were regulars there),
they each threw the dice 20 X 120 = 2,400 times. If 7 rolls were deemed to be "slides," that's less than one-third
of one percent of their throws of the dice.
Could one-third of one-percent be deemed an attempt to break the game?
Can the dealers honestly "miss" one-third of one percent of the rolls for being slides?
These are just
several issues that I think might come up in the lawsuit.
Update October 5, 2011 There has been a lot of interest in the Wynn alleged dice
sliding lawsuit and there is a lot of discussion about what is dice sliding and why is it illegal.
It's easy to explain why it's illegal because the Nevada Gaming Commission says it is. It is illegal because
dice sliding, by definition, eliminates any chance for a random throw. It's almost like picking up the dice, setting
the top faces for a particular combination, then walking to the far end of the table and placng the dice to show your winning
combination. Dice sliding is close to doing that.
In dice sliding, the dice
or a die are slid down the table so that the faces or face set on top does not move.
A
legal dice throw can also have the dice set by the shooter to show any combination. But to make the throw a random event,
the dice must fly in the air, hit the table surface at least once and hit the back wall. Some who are skilled in the
art of dice influencing claim that they can influence the dice to limit the number of faces that might show when the dice
come to rest. But in dice sliding all of the radomness can be removed.
Below
is a video I shot of what a dice slide might look like. For this video I used a pair of dice from a Las Vegas casino
and slid them on a home mini craps table. Please note that dice sliding works best when worn dice are used, without
sharp edges that can catch on the table surface. I've never slid the dice myself at a real craps table, but I was pretty
good doing it at home on my mini table. Look at my demonstration video and then read more of the articles below about
dice sliding, dice influencing and dice control, and the legality of these techniques.
THE DICE SLIDING CASE AT WYNN LAS VEGAS
Update October 1, 2011 A few days ago I got a phone call from a business reporter at
the Las Vegas Review Journal who asked me what I knew about dice sliding. Actually, I know a lot about it because over
the years I've reported on gaming as a news reporter and because I've played craps I have come to know about the various ideas,
theories and techniques for influencing the dice.
Dice sliding is illegal, and further
down on this page in my article about the theory of dice control there is more information about this. But basically
sliding is illegal because the dice in a legal throw must be tossed in the air, hit the table surface at least once and
hit the back wall. With a slide, the dice or a die will show the same face while they literally slide down the length
of the table and never leave the table surface or bounce.
Wynn Las Vegas is now reportedly
suing at least two people involved in winning a lot of money from the casino by using a slide a minimum of seven times.
When the reporter from the Las Vegas Review Journal told me about the alleged seven slides I immediately became skeptical
of the chances that the Wynn would be successful in its lawsuit to recover the money that was won using what is well
know as an illegal throw.
And the reason I am skeptical is that the table crew --
the dealers, floorman, boxman, pit boss -- should immediately identify the illegal slide the first time it is used.
And then when it is used they should warn the shooter it is illegal and disallow any future "rolls" that were in
fact a slide. So how did the shooter get away with an illegal delivery of the dice seven times?
And that is the big issue: how could seven of these slides been made under the watchful eyes of the table crew?
In fact, one of the first rules of casino game protection in craps is that the dealers must keep their eyes on the dice at
all times. So, I asked, if this shooter allegedly got away with seven slides, how could he do it without the table crew
allowing it? In other words, was the table crew in on the crime?
Shortly after
my conversation with the reporter, I found some information that some craps personnel at the Wynn were fired. However,
I do not know if they had any connection to the dice sliding case.
But the basic
point is this: the table crew is there to make sure the game is played fairly and they are there to especially watch the dice,
control the use of the dice, to see that the dice are not switched, and to make sure there is a legal throw of the dice and
that the dice slide is not used.
Perhaps the dealers and crew at that table were
not in on the crime and just did not know what a legal throw is? In which case the Wynn has some retraining
to do. Can the Wynn go after the players weeks later after the throws were allowed? I will let that issue be decided
in court, but it would seem to me that if it was determined that the dealers were not part of the scam, and the crew did not
rule against the throws, then the Wynn would have no claim on the money.
But
if the Wynn Casino had evidence that the dealers and crew members were cooperating with the shooter who was sliding the dice,
then this will blow up into a big inside theft job.
What do you think? There
is a thread on our Las Vegas Forum about this and click here to go to that discussion thread.
IT'S NOT CRAPS, IT'S SCOSSA
Update September 18, 2011 A new type of dice game has been approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission
after a test run at the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas. The game is called Scossa which is Italian for the word "toss"
and it was developed by a company called Brill Entertainment of Dallas, Texas.
If
you've ever been confused by the game of craps, you will find Scossa to be a simpler game because just about every bet you
make is decided by just one roll of two dice.
The Red Rock Casino would not allow
us to shoot a video of the game being tested there, and the photos that are available from Brill Entertainment do not show
the complete table layout and they did that probably to prevent copycats from stealing their concept.
Basically the game is played on what appears to be a craps table, but the game is limited to only eight players and
there is a dealer who controls the game. Each player takes a turn throwing the dice and the turn ends when the "shooter"
throws either a 2, 3 or 12 which are the traditional "craps numbers" at a traditional craps game. So when
you throw a 2, 3, or 12 in Scossa you really do "crap out," unlike in traditional Craps, you "seven out"
which mistakenly is called "crap out."
There are only seven bets that you
can make on a Scossa table, unlike a traditional craps game which can have thirty or more bets if you count the various exotic
bets that there are in traditioal craps.
In traditional craps, many bets "stay
up" or stay alive for multiple throws of the dice. But in Scossa all but one bet is a one roll bet and the only
bet that can survive for multiple throws of the dice is the bet that the shooter will throw three 7s in a row. If you
do have your money on the Triple-7s bet and the shooter can throw the number 7 three times in a row, it pays 200 to 1.
I know what you're thinking: how many times have we been at craps tables and a shooter has thrown a 7 three times in a row
or even more on the come out? So, you must be thinking this is a good bet to make. Well, it's still a longshot
bet no matter how many times we remember someone doing it.
Just as an aside, I was
at Caesars Palace a couple of years ago when there was a player with a bankroll of about a hundred thousand dollars who only
made one bet on each new shooter: it was the "any seven" bet on each new shooter's come out roll. And if the
shooter didn't throw a 7 on the come out, the player would double the bet on the next shooter. Well, I was at that table
and for about three hours no one threw a 7 on the comeout. Some players had long rolls in which they and the rest of
the table players made some money. But the player who only bet on a "come out 7" lost his entire bankroll
of about a hundred thousand dollars.
Someone made the observation that Scossa is
like Roulette in that you are basically betting on a number or range of numbers for each roll of the dice -- similar to a
spin of the wheel. Among the bets you can make are single number bets (2 through 12), split bets (certain matched numbers
on the layout), range bets which cover four possible numbers on each roll, hard way bets which are aces, twos, boxcars, etc.,
and another combination bet involving a hardway or a number.
The "big money
bet" on the table is the Triple-7s bet and if the shooter throws three sevens in a row this bet has the big payoff.
There is also a "Lucky 7" bet which pays only the dealer, and it is a "tip bet."
Brill Entertainment is now marketing the game to other Nevada casinos and hopes to have a Strip casino take on the
game. For more information and to see those "partial photos" of the layout go to www.BrillEntertainment.com website.
CAESARS LOWERS TABLE MINIMUM TO $10
May 31, 2011 For the first time in about a decade, Caesars Palace is again offering craps
with $10 table minimums on place and passline bets. For years Caesars had a reputation for $25 minimum tables in its
Palace Casino which was known as the richest gaming floor in town. Sometimes minimums were briefly lowered to $15, but
now Caesars is back to $10 minimums which matches the lowest games available next door at rival Bellagio. The move to
$10 minimums could draw players from other casinos with $5 minimums who might find the step up to Caesars affordable.
There are still plenty of casinos with $5 minimums at craps, and over Memorial Weekend Caesars did increase the minimums from
$10 to $25 when certain tables became full -- but other $10 tables were still available.
DICE CONTROL: IS IT LEGAL? IS IT POSSIBLE?
Update May 3, 2011 This subject comes up from time to time in magazines,
books, and especially on the Internet in discussions about casino gaming. Is it cheating to be able to set
the dice in certain combinations and to throw the dice in a manner which limits the appearance of certain numbers or produces
a better chance that certain numbers will show? In simple language,
is dice control legal or illegal? In short, dice setting and dice controlling is not illegal but players
who can influence the dice may find some resistance or pressure at some casinos. At other casinos there is no objection
to any player who attempts to set and throw dice a certain way at all.
*
The debate becomes serious when some people look at the exact language of various State's gaming regulations and
make their own interpretations of that "legal text." What appears to be the "law" or the "rules
of the game" might not be the law or the rules even if you read them in black and white. Take for example, the regulations of the State of Nevada. The definitions of "cheat" according to
Nevada gaming regulations are spelled out this way:
*
"Cheat"
means to alter the elements of chance, method of selection or criteria which determine:
(a) The result of a game;
(b) The amount or frequency
of payment in a game;....
*
From this statement, there are those who contend that dice control is a way to "cheat" because dice control
can alter the results in the game of craps (from non-random results), and dice control can alter the amount of frequency that
certain bets are paid off (for example if a "shooter" can avoid throwing a "7" then that bet would not
be paid as frequently as with a random shooter).
*
Well, it certainly might appear that dice control including setting the
dice for certain combinations and the skillfull throwing of dice to avoid certain numbers or results is a form of cheating
based on the language of the Nevada regulations. But after several
conversations with regulators in both Nevada and Michigan (which uses similar language as Nevada to define "cheating")
the regulators all agree that attempts at dice control including "setting" are not cheating and is perfectly legal
providing other conditions are met.
*
Regulators from both Nevada and Michigan have told me that "dice control"
and controlled shooting and dice setting are legal as long as the following conditions are met, and these conditions are vital
for a legal throw:
*
1. The dice are tossed in the air, above the table surface, and
2. The dice bounce at least once on the table surface, and
3. The dice hit the back wall of the table, and
4.
No artificial methods are used to limit the rolls of the dice or their movement including glues or paste.
Clearly altered dice including dice with magnets or weights are not allowed. But
this is not a discussion about altered dice, this is only a discussion about the art of dice control, or an artful throw of
the dice to influence the results of the "throw" or toss.
Some
players have mastered an "illegal" throw called the whip shot or slide. This is also an artful "throw"
but is not considered legal and is not tolerated by casinos or regulators. In the "slide" the dice actually do not
roll or turn over and are whipped down the table with the same face or numbers always on top.
I have seen the whip shot or slide used on rare occasions, and because it was used rarely (and probably surprised
casino personnel) the "toss" was not challenged. But, it could have been.
The former Chief of Enforcement of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Keith Copher, has given extensive interviews
on the subject of the legality of dice control. He has called setting the dice and "controlled shooting" an "expected
part of the game" and a legal way to play.
I spoke with
him shortly before his retirement. Here are some exact questions about dice control and his answers:
Q: "Does the Gaming Commission recognize the efficacy of so-called "dice
setting" by gamblers as a means to reliably produce non-random results of dice throws, in the same way it recognizes
the efficacy of dice sliding?"
A: "Sliding (dice)
is illegal because in sliding they don't bounce or roll the dice, and the dice don't bounce off the back wall. In sliding
the same numbers are always known, and that's cheating. But if the dice bounce and hit the back wall that's okay and they
can set them (the dice) any way they want to. The difference with a controlled throw is that there is still a bounce and the
dice are in the air."
Q: "Does the Gaming Commission
then consider "dice setting" to fall under the definition of "cheating"?
A: "No, as long as the dice fly in the air, bounce on the table, and hit the back wall. In some cases the casinos
are lenient about the dice not hitting the back wall, and these are still legal throws, no cheating."
Q: "Why is dice sliding banned, but dice setting not banned, if both are considered
effective means to alter the random outcome of dice?"
A:
"Dice sliding is a method of cheating, but as long as dice fly in the air, bounce and hit the back wall it doesn't matter
how they are set. It's not cheating as long as the dice fly in the air and bounce."
If you are a dice controller, the determination of the gaming authorities might be of little help to you if a casino
challenges your "dice control." There are numerous reports of casinos that have told "shooters" that they
cannot "set" the dice, or that they must "pick 'em up and throw them."
Casinos, can and do, set their own "rules of play." Casinos can decide not to allow dice setting or controlled
shooting, just as they can block "card counters" from playing blackjack.
Card Counting is not illegal in Nevada and other states. In fact, various courts have upheld the legality of players
using their skill (card counting) to win the game of blackjack. But the casinos, being private businesses, are not obligated
to allow card counters to play in their establishments.
And
so it is with dice controllers or "dice mechanics," as some are called. While setting and controlled shooting is
legal the casinos do not have to let you play or shoot. They can say, "throw the dice our way or take the highway."
Casinos can also enforce the "back wall" rule differently. All casinos
maintain that for a dice throw to be legal that both dice must hit the back wall; but this rule can be enforced and interpreted
differently.
Some casinos will allow a throw when both dice
end up short of the back wall by several inches or even a foot or two feet. But some casinos might call "no roll"
when both dice fail to reach and hit the back wall.
I know
of some casinos who maintain that the dice not only must reach the back wall but must bounce off of the backwall by at least
several inches. While a throw of the dice under government regulations must not bounce off the wall by any minimum number
of inches, the casino can set whatever rules it wants for its tables. I've been in casinos where the dice had to "bounce
off the wall a minimum of six inches." While there is no legal requirement for that, or rules published by the
State of Nevada that demand a bounce off the back wall by a certain minimum number of inches, the casino could still enforce
that rule -- but the casino can't say the player cheated or broke a law if the player's throw violated that
"six inch bounce rule."
I've also heard of casinos
who will declare "no roll" when the dice do not hit the back wall and a "winning number" shows, but will
let the "short roll" count if a "seven out" or losing number shows.
If a casino abuses the rights of the consumer, then the consumer should lodge a complaint with the casino management.
If the consumer feels the management has been unfair or has taken advantage of the consumer, then the consumer should take
his business elsewhere.
Should you complain to gaming authorities?
It depends on just how "one sided" the casino managment has been.
But as the strategy of "dice control" gains popularity and more players attempt it and some players master
the skill, you might find that more casinos are less tolerant of short rolls and might even be less tolerant of dice setters
and controlled shooters -- even to the point of blocking them from play.
I was intrigued to see this exchange between two craps players on an Internet discussion board on the subject
of the illegality vs. legality of dice control.
The first comments
came from a writer who suspects that dice control is illegal and cheats, and he wrote:
"Card counting is not criminalized because... it does not involve any manipulation, control, or influence upon
the gaming device, in this case, cards. Same with looking for a dealer who, through sloppy procedure, inadvertantly flashes
the dealer's hole card. Both are passive, and involve human observation only. Dice setting, were it to be demonstrated effective,
is a different kettle of fish entirely, as it involves a conscious attempt to manipulate and control the gaming device through
overt, intentional action. Its espousers allegedly 'teach' the shooter to remove randomness from the game, and that would
be a crime...if it works."
This player continues: "The
only fundamental difference between dice sliding (crime) and dice setting (not yet considered a crime) is that those who implement
and enforce the law know that dice sliding works as claimed, affecting the outcome of the roll in objective and replicable
fashion. I think however that we'll be seeing sterner countermeasures, including (God help us) throwing the bones (dice) from
a cup, or requiring that the shooter shake and not set the dice, as opposed to criminalization. But if it worked, it could
be deemed criminal conduct."
Another player, who says dice
control is not a crime or cheating responded this way:
"But
the most important thing you are overlooking is this: the dice are given to the player to throw. The casino is transferring
the fate of the roll from a dealer to the player, and it is surrendering the control of the dice to the player. Now, it becomes
an expected part of the game that the player will throw the dice so that he has an advantage. There are boundaries for what
the player can do-- he can't substitute glued or loaded dice, or magnetized dice -- but when the control of the dice were
transferred to the player the casino has surrendered and accepted that the player can have the skill to win his bets."
But is "dice control" possible? Well, even the proponents of setting dice and controlling
the throw do not claim that you can actually "control" the dice. At best, you can "influence the dice."
Perhaps there is someone out there who can control the dice to a certain degree. But once the dice hit the table even
a skilled shooter loses all control. You might control a toss until the point of impact with the table. But at
that point of impact a skilled shooter still might be able to influence how the dice will react with the table. It is
the "influencing" of the dice that can help a skilled shooter win at the game of craps.
The debate continues. Some players challenge dice control as do some casinos.
The bottom line is that the casinos make the rules that fill in the gaps between what the gaming regulators and the
courts say are the rules.
So this advice from "dice setters"
and "controllers" I have come to know:
1. Don't
be so obvious that you are setting the dice, and do it quickly.
2.
Hit the back wall each and every time.
3. Do not delay the game
with setting and throwing; practice at home so you can set and throw in a reasonably short period of time-- that's seconds.
4. Do not attempt dice control at casinos that are clearly opposed to dice controllers.
RAPID CRAPS STARTS IN LAS VEGAS
Update February 28, 2011 We knew this day was coming -- and it is here. There
is now an automated craps game in Las Vegas that has been approved by regulators and is very likely to spread througout Nevada.
It is called "Rapid Craps" and the system will be very familiar to those of you who have played "Rapid Roulette."
What makes "Rapid Craps" rapid is that all of the betting is done on computer screens at each
player's position. There is no placement of chips on the table. In fact, there is no exchange of currency with
a dealer or boxman -- you just insert your cash into the terminal just as if you were playing a slot machine. There
is one human dealer who runs the game and passes the dice from one player to the next. Yes, players still throw dice
and the single dealer has a stick to retrieve the dice and to enter the "call of the dice" into the computer --
but everything else is automated.
Bill's Gambling Hall in Vegas (a property owned
by Caesars -- formerly Harrah's) has the game now and I am sure this means the game is destined for other Caesars properties
soon. There is a photo of the game table at http://rapidcraps.com/ so take a look at the photo near the bottom of this page and notice a few things:
First,
notice the screens and that the players are standing at each position in front of a computer. So, it is still a "standing
game" and because there is only a stickman, it is possible that more player positions can be put at each table.
Second, notice that the dealer has a large stick to retrieve the dice -- this tells me that the game is played at a standard
table.
Now, some of the pros and cons of this game:
From the casino's perspective this game will be more rapid which means more bets, faster payoffs, fewer errors and
more profits. it also helps the casino that only one dealer is employed and not a crew of three or four or five at each
table. There will also be fewer delays in the game, as the game won't slow down or stop when a player buys chips or
colors up and cashes out. All of that is done with the push of a button.
From
the player's perspective there are also pros and cons. There might actually be more pros than cons, but I will deal
with the cons first. If you miss talking with the dealers, there won't be those dealers serving you anymore -- just
the stickman. If you are the kind of shooter who likes to get his hip up against the side of the table to throw the
dice -- that computer terminal will now get in your way. And if you like the feel of chips, there are no more chips.
Now the pros for the players: I am told that the computers can handle fractional bets which are
bets that are not "correct" for even payoffs when chips are used. For example, the bets on place 6 and place
8 must be made is $6 increments at most casinos but with the computer you can bet these numbers in $5 increments or $7 increments
and be paid correctly. And unless the computers are programmed against this, you can now bet both pass and don't pass
and build your comps using the doey-don't system. Many players at rapid roulette use the system of betting both red
and black simultaneously to boost their comps. Whether or not this actually is wise I will leave to another discussion.
Rapid Craps might be used to offer more lower level games because the costs are lower for the casino.
In some casinos, the craps table minimums must be high to pay for the cost of the staff. But with only one dealer and
using computers that don't go on vacation the casinos might be able to offer more Rapid Craps tables with lower betting minimums.
Do you have a thought about Rapid Craps? Tell us about them on our Las Vegas Forum. And check our other Forum pages too.
PIROUZ GAMING
CAMPAIGNS FOR ITS PATENTED "CALIFORNIA DICE" GAME
A Southern California company called Pirouz Gaming is campaigning to get its version of the game
of craps or dice used in California casinos as well as in other casinos around the country. The Pirouz game is legal
for California casino and card casino use because this game uses playing cards to determine a simulated roll of the dice.
But the inventors say their game is better than other versions of "card craps" because its game has true craps game
odds, and it is a faster game, and it is a more comfortable game for players who sit at the table, and allows players to participate
in the action. The inventors of the game say that because the game is limited to a small number of players interacting
with only one dealer it will also help new players to learn the game.
In most "card craps" games, the players' fate is determined only by dealers. While
in a traditional craps game, players determine the fate of their bets by throwing dice. And in the Pirouz game, there
is a bit of both.
The Pirouz Game
is based on a special deck of only 36 playing cards that simulate the roll of dice in the traditional craps game, and players
choose one of three cards that becomes the simulated "rolled" rolled. There is also an option to use a special
set of dice with pips that will result in only a 3 or a 7 or an 11. In the Pirouz Game, the three possible "simulated
roll cards" are placed on the layout in spaces marked 3, 7 or 11 and the card that is played is either chosen by the
"simulated shooter" by a voice command ("I'll take the 3, dealer") or throwing the special dice.
The Pirouz Game layout also has hardway bets and other traditional
bets found on a craps layout. Pirouz Gaming is now introducing its patented game to casino operators in California and
Nevada and other states. For information call Pirouz Gaming at (562) 715-7028 or email them for information at Pirouz711@aol.com.
Watch our video report below.
A DREAM TABLE FOR
A "DICE INFLUENCER" OR "DICE CONTROLLER"
The Hacienda Casino near the Boulder Dam just a short drive outside of Las Vegas might be have
the perfect or dream craps table for any player who thinks they can influence or control the throw of dice. It's also
a great place to practice the art of influencing or controlling dice because the casinon has a $1 minimum. But that's
not what makes the table at the Hacienda the dream table or the perfect table.
What makes this table so attractive for throwing dice is that when there are few players, half
of the table is shut down, and the casino places a straight wall around the middle of the table to shorten the table.
The key element here is that it is truly a straight wall meaning that your dice will
hit a straight, flat wall without a curve. It is the curve or bend in the back
wall of craps tables that can send pre-set dice off their axis and disturb an attempt at dice control or dice influencing.
We have a short video of this
table and the straight wall below.
But
keep in mind that this straight wall is added to the table only when there are few players and only one dealer staffs the
table, without a boxman or stickman.
Yes,
casino personnel are very aware that some players will attempt to control or influence the dice using a short table like this
with a straight wall, but they don't seem to be very concerned. Perhaps it is because there are so few true dice controllers or dice influencers out there who have mastered the art. But again, for a buck
on this $1 minimum bet craps table, you can test your skill -- or lack of skill -- at the Hacienda Casino.
"CARD CRAPS"
COMING TO NEVADA AND LAS VEGAS
Card
craps, which simulates the roll of two dice with two playing cards, has been familiar in California card casinos including
Hollywood Park where it is still played, and The Bicycle Club where the game has been removed for a lack of interest, and
in the various Indian casinos where it is played.
But
now a company called Play Craps Inc. has developed a version of the game that has been tested in Las Vegas and might soon
appear in many Nevada casinos.
Basically,
its a card game that simulates the roll of two dice, and players seated at the card table are able to make bets similar to
those found at a craps table. The company says that its Play Craps game is just an easier game to play because 9 players
are comfortably seated and no one has to stand. Also, the game is staffed with one or two dealers -- unlike a traditional
craps game that has three or four dealers and a boxman or supervisor.
In California, card craps has not been overly successful at the casinos, including the Indian
casinos where it is played. Frankly, if you polled the players who do play the various versions of card craps they would
all tell you they'd rather be throwing the dice. But Play Craps is arguing that players would be more comfortable
seated, and letting two cards dealt from an automatic shuffler right in front of them decide the fate of their bets.
So, why bother with cards from an automatic shuffler?
Why not load two dice into a device that will spin and rotate the dice right in front of the players?
But really, isn't the whole idea behind the game of dice
to let the players throw the dice themselves and to transfer the fate of their bets from the casino to the players?
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