Can the casino take down contract bets?

Frank,

I enjoyed reading your book Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution! and the 5-Count. I have a friend who had an interesting experience playing craps at a small casino in Wisconsin that I would like to share with you.

This casino only opens its one craps table on weekends. Since it is the only craps table in the area the rules are somewhat harsh with 2x odds and a strange alternating vig on the $25 buy bet ($2/$1/$2... etc.). It is a $5 table.

Anyhow, my friend was doing well that evening with pass/come bets and full odds. By 1:20 AM he had all the numbers covered with the pass line and come bets. He had "built his house" as he says and was having a good session. The casino closing time is 2 AM.

The pit boss stepped up to the table and said, "Three more rolls." My friend asked him what he was talking about. The pit boss replied that the table was closing after three more dice rolls. My friend replied, BS! The table will close when the devil shows up.

Nevertheless, the next three rolls did not seven out or pay the pass line but the table closed and all my friend's bets — pass and all the come bets with odds — were returned to him.

My question and his: If pass line and come bets are contract bets that the player can not take down under any circumstances, does the casino have the right to take these bets down?

Regards,
CancunSkip

Hi CancunSkip:

Well, contract bets aren't like contracts in the real world. They are just the rules of the game but the casino can change those rules if they wish. There have been times when I have had my bets returned, pass and come with odds, because something happened at a table (once a guy got sick, all over everything — truly disgusting).

Next time your friend (or you) is at the table and there are three rolls left — take all the odds down and put up a monster come bet on that last roll. You have a two-to-one edge at that moment, since there will be no number established where the edge would then return to the casino. You'll win on the 7 and 11 (eight possible ways to make; only four ways to lose). It's a great bet. In fact, go there every night and make that bet!

I am giving you a free 30-day subscription to my private members-only website at www.goldentouchcraps.com.

We have over 5,000 members on this private site and the conversations are interesting, enlightening and fun.

Enjoy!

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete