Are casinos changing what is under the felt on a craps table?

Hi Frank,

I took a craps class in a casino one morning in Las Vegas, years ago, just to learn the basics.

I have read various books on gambling, and I am now reading your articles on Casino City Times to learn more about craps. I usually play blackjack when I go to a casino, but I am starting to branch out a little.

My question is this: Are the casinos changing what is under the felt on the craps tables to thwart the controlled shooters and the rhythmic rollers from trying to beat the casino?

When I was in a Tunica casino, I asked the casino manager about why they switched to a foam rubber layer under the felt, and he said it makes the felt layer last longer.

What is your opinion on casinos changing what is under the felt layout?

Thanks,
Troy

Dear Troy:

The casino manager told you the truth. These new synthetic materials on the craps tables do last longer and they also have brighter range of many colors. The interior decorators also like to use such materials to coordinate their color schemes. If the casino is adding a padding he is also telling you the truth — the layout doesn't nick and tear as much since the dice don't slice them as they would if slate or wood was under it.

Now many of these layouts are indeed bouncier than the traditional felt but they can't thwart dice controllers. A good dice controller changes his shot somewhat on these layouts and will continue to have the edge over the house. We teach these methods in the Golden Touch advanced dice control classes and they will be featured in my new book Cutting Edge Craps: Advanced Strategies for Serious Players! which will be published by Triumph Books, a division of Random House, in fall of 2010.

The house on the other hand does face a problem with these new layouts. Many of them are so bouncy that the dice tend to fly off the tables far more often than they used to on the traditional felt. This causes the casinos to make less money and also annoys many craps players who say, "This doesn't feel like a real craps game."

For your letter, I am giving you a free 30-day subscription to my private member's only website at www.goldentouchcraps.com. We have over 5,000 members on this site and I think you will enjoy it.

All the best in and out of the casinos,

Frank Scoblete