Staying Under the Radar at Craps

Dear Frank:

I have read your books and I have been practicing dice control for 14 months. I have had personal bests of $3000, $5000 and $6000 during my rolls at casinos in Atlantic City. Using the 5-Count I have had made profits of $2000 and $9000 with random shooters. The books have been extremely helpful.

I have some questions:

1. More often than not, I lose my stop-loss point before my throw gets hot. I usually go to AC with $1500 bankroll and intend to stop after $500 - $750. I have come back from $2200 several times, but I have also left the casino down $1500. Any suggestions on getting hot earlier?

Frank Scoblete: Yes, after a random roller gets through the 5-Count bet very small on him. If you bet $120 on yourself then go with one $12 bet on the 6 or 8, or a $6 bet on the 6 and the 8. In the long run you can't win against random rollers even with using the 5-Count, so you must bet very small on them so when the dice come to you your money is in your rail and not in the casino's pile.

2. I went to Vegas in December 2005, and when talking to the crap dealers, I got into a discussion about dice setting. Their manager was cracking down on allowing people to set dice, even though nobody had consistently beat them! It just so happened that the day that this roiling went through I went on a roll for $4000 in a little over 45 minutes. The dealers noticed me before I even got to the table. As soon as my roll was done I colored up and left. Are there listings for casinos that are "thrower friendly" (have short tables with good felt, dealers easy going)? I always placed bets for the dealers on outside numbers (for which I set and shoot) but I have run into casinos/dealers who don't like me "messaging" the dice or complain when the dice don't quite touch the back wall because I have too much backspin on them. Any suggestions?

Frank Scoblete: On our private web site, The Craps Club, we do discuss some of the good and bad casinos by name. In fact, at many casinos it is the individual boxman/woman and the individual dealers who get themselves uptight about dice setters. Most dice setters and most would-be dice controllers have no real ability to beat the game of craps. They may look as if they are good, but in fact their dice are reacting in such a way when they land that the game for them is as random as for the individual who blows on the dice and wings them down the table.

3. I have been getting good comps in AC. I am concerned that my consistent play might get me on a list. I try to go once a month and if not break even come out ahead $1000. How can I check to see if my play has gotten too much attention and what are the warning signs that a casino may decline my action?

Frank Scoblete: Atlantic City cannot declne your action. About the worse they can do is not let you shoot but even there I think that would violate the New Jersey Casino Control Commission's rules. You aren't cheating when you shoot. Playing once a month won't get you on any lists. Keep playing and I do hope you keep winning.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete