Losing Ain't Easy

12 September 2021

By Frank Scoblete

QUESTION: I don’t mean to be offensive but you never write about losing. Meaning you being the person who is losing. You can’t possibly win every time you go to the casinos; so, what gives? I would think someone who has been writing about casino play for as long as you have would certainly have experienced losing sessions. Am I wrong about that? Are you always a winner?

ANSWER: No offense. If I were under the impression, as you seem to be, that I never write about personal losses, then I think I would question me too. The facts are the opposite. I’ve written plenty of words about my ill times. I doubt any casino player who has been playing for over 30 years, and in some of those years playing 130 days in the palaces of Dame Fortune, would not have plenty of losing sessions.

In my books I have laid out many a morning, day or evening where I have lost and sometimes where I have been clobbered. I even once shared with my readers the time I lost my entire bankroll and the Captain of craps, my late mentor, taught me what I was doing wrong in my betting and money management style. I have shared his teachings with my readers as well.

I remember once in Mississippi when I had my head handed to me at craps. I had just finished a successful “Frank Scoblete’s Gamblers’ Jamboree” and I confidently went to the craps tables. Other players passed me the dice. I was feeling so good about myself since we had a huge turnout for the weekend. Heck, I might break the all-time record which at that time belonged to the same Captain mentioned above.

I set the record all right. I couldn’t shoot the dice for anything. I constantly sevened-out within a few rolls of establishing my point. Other players were looking at me quizzically. “Is he this great gambling guru? He can’t even shoot the dice! He’s a guaranteed fast seven-out.” When a couple of players started betting the don’t during my roll, I called it an (embarrassing) night. The bad times stayed with me for the whole trip. Thankfully, I managed my money properly so I wasn’t economically destroyed. But my emotions sure were jangked.



I had the same type of thing happen to me in Atlantic City at the magnificent Ocean casino. I like to play craps early in the morning. I went to the table and there were six people playing. When I took the dice one of the players next to me shouted out to his friend across the table, “Hey, hey, we have a celebrity at the table.” I looked to see who the celebrity was – it was me!

I smiled and nodded hello. I was passed the dice and the two friends placed a don’t pass wager against me. Yes, I was their favorite celebrity that day as I sevened out like crazy right off the bat. I made them a lot of money until I quit. “Come to the table any time you want,” said the original player. I waved goodbye and went back to my room and watched the ocean outside. That was the best part of the morning for me.

Now, you will notice that in my writings for my books, my articles and my videos and television shows that I do stress the need to be aware that losing is a part of the game. That’s why you have to know when to quit and you have to manage your money properly.

I wish I never lost once in my life but that was (and is) not to be.


QUESTION: Some months I get more offers from the casinos than in other months. My match play will change. Why is that?

ANSWER: Time of year. Probably has to do with expected crowds. Weekdays for smaller players seems to be the time for the better comps.