The Oracle at Odds - Part 4

This is the age of lists -- the top 100 movies of all time, the top 100 books of the 20th Century, the top 100 colleges for academic excellence or bargains or partying, and the top 100 women former President Bill Clinton scored with; plus all those weekly top 10 this list, and top 10 that list and top 10 those other things list. In the interests of keeping up with the list makers as well as the (Dow) Joneses, I decided to list the top 60 questions I am asked whenever I give talks about casino gambling. My list is in no particular order of importance, but these are the most-asked questions of yours truly and the answers that I give when I'm asked them. All value judgments are mine. So if I say this is the best thing, that is just my not-so-humble opinion. Of course, in my opinion my opinion is the correct opinion as today I assume my new identity as The Oracle at Odds -- Nostragamus! Ask and it shall be answered!

16. What is the dumbest thing you ever did in a casino?

I played a Martingale at roulette when I first started playing. That's the double-up-after-you-lose system. It worked great for almost three days. On the third day I had to go to a huge bet to try to recoup my $5 initial wager. I almost had a heart attack.

17. What is the most you ever won in one session?

Just enough to keep me in writing.

18. What is the most you ever lost in one session?

Just enough to keep me in writing.

19. What's the oldest gambling game?

Marriage. After that it is probably rolling dem bones. I think "dice" of a type are about the oldest implements for divining luck and divining luck was the oldest form of gambling. In archeological digs, the ankle bones of ancient sheep have been found with all sorts of designs on them. Primitive people would roll those bones or throw them and ask the gods questions and depending on which symbols came up, that would be the answer to the question. By the way, some of those same primitive people can also be found at modern craps tables today.

20. Is there a way to beat craps?

The math is unassailable - craps can't be beaten in the long run. But it is possible that the math is not the be-all and end-all of the game of craps. There is the real world where shooters get to roll them bones. The legendary Captain of craps believes, and I tend to believe, that some shooters are physically controlling the dice to slightly alter the nature of the game.