Gaming Guru

Dice Setting Banned?

Dear Frank:

I love the game of craps. I also have no delusion that it will make me rich or that I will not lose in the long run. I have used your methods to extend my time at the tables and got into controlled shooting as well. I read Sharpshooter's book and purchased a practice box along with a fresh stick of dice. I am slowly buying the equipment to build a full-scale table! I live in Western Washington and there are several Indian casinos here. More and more I am getting chastised at the tables for setting the dice. I can set the dice really fast having practiced Sharpshooter's methods so it is not due to me holding up play. I can set the dice and get them flying faster than most chicken-feeder shooters do.

I often am told, "Please do not spin the dice, sir!" by the boxman. The stickman usually will ask me if I want certain numbers facing up but, of course, the stickman will not set them precisely the way I need. I even had a pit boss say to the boxman that my method of letting the dice fly was "the perfect throw" as using a controlled throw and making the dice take a nice smooth arc I am not making the dice fly off the table or bounce so hard as to have them hit chip stacks, etc. Even though I impressed the pit boss I was still not allowed to "spin" the dice on the table.

I then tried to set them in the air one-handed but kept dropping them on the table! I have since been practicing getting them set correctly at lightning speed in my palm like I am a slight of hand magician! Easier said than done! With more and more casinos barring obvious dice setting we are going to have to become as good as Chris Angel or David Blaine with one-hand non-obvious setting of the dice!

I am afraid they will think I am trying to gaff the dice or something and will get tackled by security if I get on a hot roll! I have not been to Vegas in quite some time. Are they frowning at dice setters in Vegas too?

A lot of fuss by the casinos I think. I am not trying to break the bank, just trying to make my meager $100 bankroll last more than 15 minutes!

Michael

Dear Michael:

Yours is not the first report I have received that some of the Indian casinos are banning dice setting. This is penny wise and pound foolish as so many non-controlled shooters love to set the dice too. The fact is that most dice setters, maybe 99+ percent of them, have no control over their throws - they make as much money for the casinos as do the regular herk-jerk-and-fling players.

Vegas is a little more sophisticated but you will occasionally run into boxmen or floorpeople who also get themselves tied in a bind over dice setting and careful throwing.

I know my advice is going to seem tough to follow but there is absolutely no reason for you to play in a casino that you can't feel comfortable in. Why lose your money to them if they don't allow you to play as you wish to play? I would save up the money I would have used losing in the Indian casino and head for Vegas or another Indian casino where my action was appreciated.

Yours was a very thoughtful letter and I am giving you a free two month subscription to my private web site The Craps Club at www.goldentouchcraps.com. Enjoy! It will come in a separate email.

All the best in and out of the casinos.

Frank Scoblete