The demon of dice control

14 July 2015

By Frank Scoblete

FROM JOHN: Are dice controllers getting more notice from the casinos? I have played craps at various casinos in different states, and I've started to see more people setting their dice.

Along with this, more comments from the boxman on the time it takes for them to do it. I have found that most dice setters know their sets and take little time whatsoever to set them.

Guess what? Nothing said to the rollers who shake their dice and drops them on the table two to three times until they land the way they want and then shake and throw them.

I can't believe the casinos are losing more money to the dice setters then they are everyone else, or did your team back in the day put some fear into them?

FRANK RESPONDS: Yes, you will hear comments from some box-people and dealers that dice setters can’t get an edge (“You know, sir, doing that doesn’t give you an edge over the casino.”) They may even make comments that dice setters take too long to set their dice. Some of this might be justified; most of it isn’t.

First of all, in the 25 years I have been playing craps, players have set the dice. It is not a new technique. It looks good and it looks as if the player is serious about winning. I think looking good is a good thing. I prefer a dice setter to a wild winger.

Do dice setters have an edge over the casinos? No. Absolutely not.

Setting the dice is not the same as having any control or influence over the outcome of the throw. So a regular dice setter is no different than any other random roller. The dice setter may look good, or cool or in control, but in fact he's as random a shooter as the guy who shakes, rattles and cannonades the dice like a maniac.

There are (sad to say) very few dice controllers who are beating the casinos. Yes, these folks set their dice fast and their throws finish in about 10 seconds from starting their sets to the stickman calling out the results.

My disappointing experience with dice controllers of the modern game is that they still bet the crummy bets that give the house too large an edge for the dice controller’s skill to overcome.

As to the casino crews who hassle dice setters but let others shoot without comment, we are dealing with folks who really don’t know the game. They are good at paying off bets, but their knowledge of who is or isn’t a dice controller is limited. The ones who say that dice control, as opposed to simply dice setting, can’t get an edge haven’t really been watching their games over a decent period of time.

Dice control works; merely setting the dice just makes the shooter look good.

For your letter I am sending you a copy of my book “The Virgin Kiss.”

Frank Scoblete’s new book is “I Am a Dice Controller: Inside the World of Advantage-Play Craps.” Available from Amazon.com, Kindle or at bookstores.