Jerry 'Stickman' is an expert in dice control at craps, blackjack, advantage slots and video poker. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. The 'Stickman' is also a certified instructor for Golden Touch Craps dice control classes and Golden Touch Blackjack's advantage classes. Practicing your dice control would really prove useful because it may help you raise your chances to win in craps. Practicing your craps dice throwing technique will help you when you are the shooter but you must keep in mind that the casino security overlooking at the craps table will not allow you to place bets only when you are the shooter. Intermediate and Journeyman dice control practice advice One of the major rules of craps is the dice must be thrown so they hit the opposite wall and bounce off, otherwise you will have to rethrow. Casinos put triangle shaped pyramids or bumps on the walls to produce more randomness when the dice bounce off of them.
- Controlled Dice Throwing Craps Against
- Controlled Dice Throwing Craps Ball
- Controlled Dice Throwing Craps Games
Dice Control at Craps
By Henry Tamburin
Can someone actually control the dice to be able to throw specific numbers at craps? I get asked that question a lot from casino players and here is my answer.
First, let me say I was always skeptical about dice control. I mean come on now; the dice have to hit the back wall, don't they? And when that happens, they bounce all over the place. It appeared to me that dice control was 'wishful thinking' and this was my position on this subject about 5 years ago.
Then something happened. My good friend and fellow gambling writer Frank Scoblete invited to me a seminar on dice control. The class was held at a hotel in Las Vegas, the room was filled with craps players, and the speakers began to discuss the art and the science of dice control. They talked about degrees of freedom, how to set the dice, how to grip them, and how to toss them down the table. It was all very interesting, but I still wondered, does it work?
In order to answer that question, I started observing and playing craps with Frank Scoblete, Dominator, and other Golden Touch Craps (GTC) dice instructors in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Mississippi, Chicago, Canada, and elsewhere over the course of two years. What I discovered was quite remarkable.
The objective of dice control is to avoid throwing the seven. That's because once a point number is established in craps, a subsequent throw of 7 will result in most players losing (i.e., those players betting with the shooter will lose). Plus dice players generally bet straight up on the numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) hoping they will be thrown again before a 7 appears. So in craps, when the shooter throws a lot of numbers other than the 7, players can rake in the dough.
Probability states that for every six throws of the dice, one of them should be a 7. Therefore, the seven to non-seven ratio is 6. Casinos make tons of money in craps as long as the 7 appears once every 6 throws on average. And as long as a player isn't using a loaded pair of dice (virtually impossible to do nowadays) and simply picks them up and flings them down the table, the result of the throw is random, meaning the dice will behave the way the probability dictates they should behave (i.e., one 7 for every six throws on average). So when dice throws are random, casinos will make money and players will lose money in the long run. Simple.
So what did I see Frank and his team do during the 2 years I watched them play? They threw the dice 20 consecutive times without a 7, not once or twice, but many, many times. In fact I observed the GTC instructors have monster rolls of 30, and in one case, as many as 40 rolls, without the 7 showing. In my 30 plus years of playing craps I never saw anything like that.
So these guys were winning a ton of money right in front of my eyes and I was winning too (I'm no fool, I made bets when these guys rolled). But being a math guy, I still wanted more proof that were in fact influencing the dice compared to a random shooter. So I asked Dan Pronovost, a math whiz and creator of Speed Count in blackjack, to have a look see at what these guys were doing at the craps table. To make a long short, Dan flew to Vegas, and then again to Atlantic City, observed Frank and the guys play, and took the GTC course. He was impressed as I was with the way these guys shot the dice.
Red wind casino dining options no deposit. Dan went to work back in his office and decided to statistically analyze their throws. In order to do this, he developed a unique software program, Smart Craps, which allows you to prove with statistical certainty that you are indeed influencing the dice (www.smartcraps.com). The bottom line: on the GTC shooters that Dan analyzed, they data showed that they indeed were influencing the dice enough to give them the edge over the casino.
You can read more about dice control on GoldenTouchCraps.com (there are plenty of good articles posted on this site including the unbelievable 147 rolls that the legendary Captain threw without a 7). You can also learn about dice control from Frank Scoblete and Dominator's best-selling book, Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution. The book contains over 90 photographs that explain the mechanics and technique of dice control (available at amazon.com or in bookstores).
As for me, I'm still practicing my dice control on a practice table in my garage. Learning this physical technique takes time, but I'm willing put in the time and practice. Who knows … the next time you see me, it might be at the craps table.
Craps seems like a totally random game. After all, you simply try to toss dice off a diamond-patterned wall.
And you don't necessarily have to hit the wall. But casinos want you to make an attempt to ensure randomness.
These factors seemingly produce uncontrolled results. However, a small segment of the craps community believes you can influence your results with a certain technique.
This technique is referred to as 'dice control' (a.k.a. controlled shooting). It involves the art of tossing dice in a manner that helps you control the winning numbers as you play real money craps.
Dice control sounds great in theory, but it's actually a scam. I'll explain more on this method along with why it's a complete farce.
Basics of Dice Control
The term 'dice control' says everything. You're controlling how you toss the dice. But how do you pull this off?
Everything begins with how you 'set' the dice. Setting refers to holding the cubes in a specific manner, with certain numbers covered and exposed.
The V-shape is one of the most classic sets. It involves holding the dice so that the threes form a V-shape. It's supposed to reduce your odds of throwing a seven.
The next matter is to toss the dice in a consistent manner. You're aiming to kiss them off the back wall and reduce randomness.
This feat certainly isn't easy when considering the diamond-patterned wall. But then again, you don't need to control the outcome very often to gain an edge.
Assuming you can reduce your 'sevens rolls ratio' (RSR) by just a bit, then you can swing the odds in your favor. RSR alludes to the ratio of rolls that produce a seven against those that don't.
Your odds of rolling a seven are one in six, or an RSR of 6:1 (16.67% of the time). But if you can improve to just 6.5:1, then you're guaranteed profits over time as a 'right' bettor (e.g. pass line). Do even better than this, and you'll be rolling in the winnings.
Experts advise either buying a real craps table or rigging your own for practice purposes. The latter option is more feasible when considering the cost and space requirements of a real table.
These experts also claim that you must practice for months to develop a consistent toss. This seems reasonable when considering how impossible it is to actually control your throws.
You supposedly need to approach this method like a professional athlete hones their craft. A pro basketball player doesn't just start out hitting 80% of their free throws. Instead, they need to work up to these skills.
Controlled Dice Throwing Craps Against
The same is allegedly true of dice control in that practice makes perfect. Top craps players are said to toss dice for hours a day outside of the casino.
What's the Promise of Dice Control?
Some of the biggest proponents of controlled shooting include Dominic LoRiggio, Chris Pawlicki, and Frank Scoblete.
These gambling authors claim that craps is a beatable game. They also contend that you can make a fortune over time with enough hard work.
Scoblete often writes about a late gambler who went by the nickname 'The Captain.' He claims that The Captain regularly beat casinos out of big winnings.
Besides earning money, another benefit of dice control is that it flies under the casino's radar. Staff members will turn a blind eye towards controlled shooters. Therefore, you can use this technique without being hassled.
One more benefit is that dice control is physical in nature. You'll find that perfecting your dice toss is more fun than sitting around counting cards or trying to see the dealer's hole card (a.k.a. hole carding).
You may even come to love the practice element. You can treat this matter like a fun game where you want to be the best.
Why Is Dice Control a Complete Scam?
The biggest question mark surrounding controlled shooting is that it's not banned by casinos. Gambling venues normally don't care if somebody sets the dice and throws with the same consistency every time.
Casinos are staunchly against allowing advantage gamblers to run over them. They harass and even ban successful card counters to prevent this from happening.
Yet they could care less when it comes to dice setters. Dealers allow these so-called advantage players to set dice within reason.
Now, the aforementioned gambling authors will tout how casinos do harass controlled shooters. They'll conjure up stories about a dealer or pit boss trying to back off a dice controller.
Another problem with dice control is that there are no reliable examples of successful players. Scoblete's examples of The Captain are the only stories we have to go off of. But Scoblete has no actual proof that The Captain truly beat casinos or even existed.
Contrast this to other advantage play techniques, like card counting or wheel bias. Both of these strategies have produced documented cases of big winners.
Perhaps another fishy sign is the dice control courses run by LoRiggio and Scoblete. The pair operate Golden Touch seminars, where they teach players controlled shooting for the low price of $1,500.
Of course, they claim that the lofty cost is due to them giving away such valuable information. However, paying $1,500 for an advantage gambling method that's unproven is over the top.
Many craps enthusiasts want to believe that the game can be beaten through skill. But looking at the facts, things just don't add up.
Is There a Reliable Way to Beat Craps?
I strongly contend that there's no legal way to beat craps on a consistent basis. You actually can top the casinos through dice sliding. However, this technique doesn't satisfy the legal requirement.
The only real way to win in craps is by making good bets and backing them with odds. You start this process by focusing on pass line, come, don't pass line, and don't come.
Pass line (made on come-out roll) and come (made after) both have a 1.41% house edge. Don't pass line (made on come-out roll) and don't come (made after) each have a 1.36% house advantage.
You can back any of the four aforementioned bets once a 'point' number has been established. Betting bigger odds means that a larger portion of your wager won't be subject to the casino house edge.
Here's an example to illustrate how larger odds lower the overall house advantage on your wagers:
- 2x odds pass line = 0.848% house edge
- 2x odds don't pass line = 0.682% house edge
- 5x odds pass line = 0.326%
- 5x odds don't pass line = 0.227%
- 10x odds pass line = 0.184%
- 10x odds don't pass line = 0.124%
- 20x odds pass line = 0.099%
- 20x odds don't pass line = 0.065%
The problem with higher odds is two-fold:
- You must be able to afford the bet.
- Most casinos don't offer 10x or 20x odds.
Regarding the first point, your odds bet needs to match its multiple in relation to the original wager. If you bet $10 on pass line and take 10x odds, for example, then you must wager an additional $100 ($110 total).
As for the second dilemma, you may not find a casino in your area that allows higher than 5x odds. But you can still benefit with odds ranging from 1x to 5x.
Conclusion
So these guys were winning a ton of money right in front of my eyes and I was winning too (I'm no fool, I made bets when these guys rolled). But being a math guy, I still wanted more proof that were in fact influencing the dice compared to a random shooter. So I asked Dan Pronovost, a math whiz and creator of Speed Count in blackjack, to have a look see at what these guys were doing at the craps table. To make a long short, Dan flew to Vegas, and then again to Atlantic City, observed Frank and the guys play, and took the GTC course. He was impressed as I was with the way these guys shot the dice.
Red wind casino dining options no deposit. Dan went to work back in his office and decided to statistically analyze their throws. In order to do this, he developed a unique software program, Smart Craps, which allows you to prove with statistical certainty that you are indeed influencing the dice (www.smartcraps.com). The bottom line: on the GTC shooters that Dan analyzed, they data showed that they indeed were influencing the dice enough to give them the edge over the casino.
You can read more about dice control on GoldenTouchCraps.com (there are plenty of good articles posted on this site including the unbelievable 147 rolls that the legendary Captain threw without a 7). You can also learn about dice control from Frank Scoblete and Dominator's best-selling book, Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution. The book contains over 90 photographs that explain the mechanics and technique of dice control (available at amazon.com or in bookstores).
As for me, I'm still practicing my dice control on a practice table in my garage. Learning this physical technique takes time, but I'm willing put in the time and practice. Who knows … the next time you see me, it might be at the craps table.
Craps seems like a totally random game. After all, you simply try to toss dice off a diamond-patterned wall.
And you don't necessarily have to hit the wall. But casinos want you to make an attempt to ensure randomness.
These factors seemingly produce uncontrolled results. However, a small segment of the craps community believes you can influence your results with a certain technique.
This technique is referred to as 'dice control' (a.k.a. controlled shooting). It involves the art of tossing dice in a manner that helps you control the winning numbers as you play real money craps.
Dice control sounds great in theory, but it's actually a scam. I'll explain more on this method along with why it's a complete farce.
Basics of Dice Control
The term 'dice control' says everything. You're controlling how you toss the dice. But how do you pull this off?
Everything begins with how you 'set' the dice. Setting refers to holding the cubes in a specific manner, with certain numbers covered and exposed.
The V-shape is one of the most classic sets. It involves holding the dice so that the threes form a V-shape. It's supposed to reduce your odds of throwing a seven.
The next matter is to toss the dice in a consistent manner. You're aiming to kiss them off the back wall and reduce randomness.
This feat certainly isn't easy when considering the diamond-patterned wall. But then again, you don't need to control the outcome very often to gain an edge.
Assuming you can reduce your 'sevens rolls ratio' (RSR) by just a bit, then you can swing the odds in your favor. RSR alludes to the ratio of rolls that produce a seven against those that don't.
Your odds of rolling a seven are one in six, or an RSR of 6:1 (16.67% of the time). But if you can improve to just 6.5:1, then you're guaranteed profits over time as a 'right' bettor (e.g. pass line). Do even better than this, and you'll be rolling in the winnings.
Experts advise either buying a real craps table or rigging your own for practice purposes. The latter option is more feasible when considering the cost and space requirements of a real table.
These experts also claim that you must practice for months to develop a consistent toss. This seems reasonable when considering how impossible it is to actually control your throws.
You supposedly need to approach this method like a professional athlete hones their craft. A pro basketball player doesn't just start out hitting 80% of their free throws. Instead, they need to work up to these skills.
Controlled Dice Throwing Craps Against
The same is allegedly true of dice control in that practice makes perfect. Top craps players are said to toss dice for hours a day outside of the casino.
What's the Promise of Dice Control?
Some of the biggest proponents of controlled shooting include Dominic LoRiggio, Chris Pawlicki, and Frank Scoblete.
These gambling authors claim that craps is a beatable game. They also contend that you can make a fortune over time with enough hard work.
Scoblete often writes about a late gambler who went by the nickname 'The Captain.' He claims that The Captain regularly beat casinos out of big winnings.
Besides earning money, another benefit of dice control is that it flies under the casino's radar. Staff members will turn a blind eye towards controlled shooters. Therefore, you can use this technique without being hassled.
One more benefit is that dice control is physical in nature. You'll find that perfecting your dice toss is more fun than sitting around counting cards or trying to see the dealer's hole card (a.k.a. hole carding).
You may even come to love the practice element. You can treat this matter like a fun game where you want to be the best.
Why Is Dice Control a Complete Scam?
The biggest question mark surrounding controlled shooting is that it's not banned by casinos. Gambling venues normally don't care if somebody sets the dice and throws with the same consistency every time.
Casinos are staunchly against allowing advantage gamblers to run over them. They harass and even ban successful card counters to prevent this from happening.
Yet they could care less when it comes to dice setters. Dealers allow these so-called advantage players to set dice within reason.
Now, the aforementioned gambling authors will tout how casinos do harass controlled shooters. They'll conjure up stories about a dealer or pit boss trying to back off a dice controller.
Another problem with dice control is that there are no reliable examples of successful players. Scoblete's examples of The Captain are the only stories we have to go off of. But Scoblete has no actual proof that The Captain truly beat casinos or even existed.
Contrast this to other advantage play techniques, like card counting or wheel bias. Both of these strategies have produced documented cases of big winners.
Perhaps another fishy sign is the dice control courses run by LoRiggio and Scoblete. The pair operate Golden Touch seminars, where they teach players controlled shooting for the low price of $1,500.
Of course, they claim that the lofty cost is due to them giving away such valuable information. However, paying $1,500 for an advantage gambling method that's unproven is over the top.
Many craps enthusiasts want to believe that the game can be beaten through skill. But looking at the facts, things just don't add up.
Is There a Reliable Way to Beat Craps?
I strongly contend that there's no legal way to beat craps on a consistent basis. You actually can top the casinos through dice sliding. However, this technique doesn't satisfy the legal requirement.
The only real way to win in craps is by making good bets and backing them with odds. You start this process by focusing on pass line, come, don't pass line, and don't come.
Pass line (made on come-out roll) and come (made after) both have a 1.41% house edge. Don't pass line (made on come-out roll) and don't come (made after) each have a 1.36% house advantage.
You can back any of the four aforementioned bets once a 'point' number has been established. Betting bigger odds means that a larger portion of your wager won't be subject to the casino house edge.
Here's an example to illustrate how larger odds lower the overall house advantage on your wagers:
- 2x odds pass line = 0.848% house edge
- 2x odds don't pass line = 0.682% house edge
- 5x odds pass line = 0.326%
- 5x odds don't pass line = 0.227%
- 10x odds pass line = 0.184%
- 10x odds don't pass line = 0.124%
- 20x odds pass line = 0.099%
- 20x odds don't pass line = 0.065%
The problem with higher odds is two-fold:
- You must be able to afford the bet.
- Most casinos don't offer 10x or 20x odds.
Regarding the first point, your odds bet needs to match its multiple in relation to the original wager. If you bet $10 on pass line and take 10x odds, for example, then you must wager an additional $100 ($110 total).
As for the second dilemma, you may not find a casino in your area that allows higher than 5x odds. But you can still benefit with odds ranging from 1x to 5x.
Conclusion
I seriously hope that you haven't paid for any dice control courses or worked on your toss for long. If so, then you've been scammed!
Controlled shooting simply doesn't work. Instead, it's the invention of clever gambling authors who want you to believe that craps can be beaten for the right price.
Controlled Dice Throwing Craps Ball
If you're serious enough to spend hours practicing your toss and, most importantly, pay $1,500 for a course, then you can win.
But this narrative is complete BS. You merely need look at how casinos couldn't care less about controlled shooters to see the truth.
Dice setters fall into the latter category. Nobody can toss a pair of small cubes 12 to 14 feet down a table, hit a diamond-patterned wall, and expect consistent results.
Controlled Dice Throwing Craps Games
You're better off throwing your time into a real advantage play technique, like card counting or hole carding. Leave controlled shooting to the delusional crowd who believes that they can make long-term profits.
Assuming you like craps, then you can still give yourself a reasonable chance to win. All you need to do is make bets with the lowest house edges and back them with odds.
You may not gain the upper hand on casinos this way. But at least you'll have decent odds of winning, without blowing time and money on dice control.
