Ask Frank (Random Craps Game)

Dear Frank:

Frank you are one very lucky person. Lucky by way of the fact that gambling not being a real profession. Because if it was then you would be a professional person, like a doctor. See because if you were like a doctor your patients would be suing you right now for malpractice. I am referring to your article on the best craps game in Vegas [in the August 2002 issue of Casino Player magazine]. I will not be at the Treasure Island Casino. I will be at the Casino Royale or whatever casino that offers me 100X odds. I will take that to the bank. You on the other hand can take your delightful combination of outstanding crews and tolerance and call me in the morning.

Brian

Dear Brian:

In a random craps game, 100X odds at Casino Royale are better than 3X, 4X and 5X odds at Treasure Island by about 35 cents for every $100 wagered on the Pass or Come with full odds. That is, for 3X, 4X and 5X odds your expectation in a random game is to lose 37 cents per $100 wagered. With 100X odds, your expected loss for every $100 wagered with full odds is 2 cents. In a random game, it doesn't matter if the table is small, such as those at Treasure Island, or football fields, such as those at Casino Royale. In a random game, it doesn't matter if the crews are tolerant of a player setting the dice and taking care with his delivery or antsy and at times hostile if he does so. For a player who can afford betting on the line and taking those 100X odds (if the table minimum is $1, then you're putting up $100 in odds), and sees craps in no other light other than the math and probabilities, that 35 cents looms large. So, you are right from your perspective that the Casino Royale game is better.

However, in my opinion, there's more to the game of craps than randomness and maxing out on the odds. When you get to a point where you're talking about a 35 cents difference on the $100 (and remember you MUST be able to afford to take the full 100X odds in this discussion) and you have one place where the tables are small and the crews are savvy and tolerant of setting and taking care with your delivery (and, perhaps, altering the game to favor you slightly when you roll -- see my book Forever Craps) and another place where the table is like an aircraft carrier and the crews not so accommodating to your style of play, the choice for me is simple. I'll take the place where I have a shot to flip the game in my favor or, at the very least, have a pleasant time trying to do so. My ratings of the craps games in Las Vegas therefore took other things into consideration in addition to the odds.

Now, calm down, take a couple of pills and please, DON'T call me in the morning!

All the best in and out of the casinos!
Frank Scoblete