Readers Write

Dear Frank,

I have been enthralled by the prospects of rhythmic rolling for a while now, and have been practicing at home ardently. I came up with a good placement and grip, and felt very comfortable after many hours of practice. After reading your story on rhythmic rolling in Chance Magazine, I decided it was time to give my technique a try in the "real world."

I live in South Lake Tahoe and ventured to Bill's Casino recently for a go at the craps tables. After betting conservatively while the dice made their way around the table, my time had finally come to throw. I laid my modest pass line bet, grabbed the cubes appropriately, and expertly tossed them down the table. They hit the surface, took a small bounce against the back wall, and died just the way I had practiced for and planned on; they landed on the eight.

To make a long story short, I hit my point twice within the first five rolls, and people began making their way around my table to watch. After I had hit my second point, the stickman began giving me a hard time. I threw again and nailed the eight again. When he pushed the bones in front of me, he informed me that I could no longer grip them the way I wanted. He told me I had to grab them and throw them in one motion. I again clutched them as I had previously and threw them to another eight. He pushed them back to me and told me that if I did it again, he would have me thrown out of the casino or arrested! I grabbed them and threw them like any other person and sevened out.

My question is simple. Do the craps dealers have the right to tell me how to throw, or was he just being a jerk and trying to rattle me? Please let me know how people get away with rythmic rolling, and please let me know if it is like this at all casinos.

Thank you for your time,
T.G.

Dear T.G.:

The stickman was being a jerk...and a fool. He was being a jerk because often even experienced rhythmic rollers actually win money for the casino as many players bet the numbers that aren't hitting or bet the don't side and get killed. Often "action" players press their bets after several wins only to lose everything back with one rotten seven. The rhythmic roller has made money on his roll and the casino has made money from the "action" players who couldn't keep their heads and settle for somewhat smaller wins. The casino is in no jeopardy from a lone rhythmic roller.

The stickman was precipitous as well. Even though you nailed a few eights in a row, you could have done that just by flinging the dice. It could have been luck. To immediately jump on you for the way you rolled showed that this particular stickman was not just a jerk but a fool. Obviously, he has lost you as a customer and every one reading your letter on these pages (and that will be tens of thousands of craps players) will probably want to avoid Bill's Casino in Southern Tahoe.

You did nothing illegal by picking the dice up your way and rolling your way. However, card counters in blackjack do nothing illegal as well and the courts in Nevada have upheld the right of casinos to refuse their action and even boot them out the door.

I have played craps in over a hundred casinos. I fix the dice a certain way and roll a certain way each and every time. A few casinos have given me a hard time but only one was in Vegas, and not one in Atlantic City has given me the least look. In fact, in most casinos I've played in just about half the players have set ways of rolling. It's a part of the charm of the game. I don't go to any casino that hassles me about how I roll or about anything else...nor do my friends. And I certainly don't recommend inhospitable casinos to the people who write to me to ask me where they should play.

I'm sure you will not be giving BILL'S CASINO a recommendation to anyone you know.

Go elsewhere.

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

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