Dice Setter Precision Shooter's Newsletter     

Welcome to the 24th edition of the  Dice Setter Precision Shooter's Newsletter   Two years ago, I began publishing the newsletter to keep those interested in dice influencing up-to-date on the news, features, and issues which affect us.  24 issues, and over 600 subscribers later, the interest in dice influencing continues to grow.  With the increased interest in our art form, some less than positive aspects of our community have also come to light.  Because of this, I will be making some major changes to Dice Setter and the message board. The changes in the site will be put into place shortly after the Axis Power Craps Vegas Seminar which is coming up July 11 -13 in Las Vegas. If you are not a registered member of the message board, I urge you to do so soon.

So, without further ado, let's get on with this month's newsletter.

Risk and Reward
by Heavy Haltom

Risk. We face it everyday. Risk from uninsured motorists. Risk from eating too much red meat. Risk when we jaywalk in Vegas. Everyone, at some gut level, makes choices about risk every day. For the most part we measure the amount of risk we take against the potential reward - then make a decision as to whether or not that risk is acceptable. But this isn't always the case. Let's consider three different players at a craps table. You may even recognize yourself as one of them. Then again - you may see a bit of yourself in all three.

Our first player has $1000 bankroll and a $500 loss limit. He steps up to the table, buys in and places a bet for $60 each on the six and eight. He knows he has placed an inappropriately large portion of his session money at risk - almost 25% of it in fact. But he has weighed the potential of loss, analyzed the probability that a six or eight may roll, and is cautiously optimistic that he will win. If not - he is optimistic that he still has sufficient bankroll remaining to allow him to get back in the game then get out with a win.

The second player is a bit more pessimistic. He has a $500 bankroll - and his loss limit is the whole thing - $500. He's in the casino because he doesn't have enough cash to pay all of his bills. In fact, his car payment is due for $650 right now. He needs to win $150 just to have enough to make his payment - and even then he'll be broke until next payday. He knows he might lose the entire $500 - but what the heck? He can't pay his bills anyway. This player cannot AFFORD to lose - and that will ultimately beat him.

The third player has a $2500 bankroll. He is a classic high roller - in the casino for a good time. The $2500 he's playing with is strictly "entertainment" money to him. If he wins - great. If he loses - there's plenty more where that came from. As long as the craps dealer is a cutie and the beverage server keeps showing a little cleavage when she brings his Crown and water he's a happy camper.

There you have it. Three very different players. All three realize they could lose 100% of their session money. But what will actually happen at the table?

The first player - the optimist - will likely get the most consistent positive results. He's set loss limits and has a specific game plan for when he gets to the table. He will continually weigh risk versus reward and adjust his betting style as needed. He is thinking like a winner.

The second player - the pessimist - is the most likely to lose. Out of desperation he will make increasingly bolder/high risk plays. He will inevitably chase his losses until he tosses the last chip in. He is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The third player - the indifferent high roller - will probably come close to playing to a "draw" with the casino. No, it's not about the money. It's about the good time. No doubt you've seen these players before - playing for an hour or so - losing a thousand bucks - then throwing out a $100 hard eight and winning it all back on one toss. The hundred bucks means nothing to them - and luck just seems to seek them out.

Where do you fit into this mix? Hopefully, you're player number one. If not - you should be.

Mad Professor's Mini-Table Craps Tour with the Vegas Ghost- Part IX

(Read Part I , Part II, Part III or Part IV or Part V or Part VI or Part VII or Part VIII)  

Mel, the Vegas Ghost was in a rare mood as we made our way to the next mini-table target.  He had just hung up the phone from talking to the current Mrs. Vegas Ghost.  She is wife number-four or is it five?  Well, let’s just say that she is Mel’s wife-du-jour.   Anyway, she was obviously annoyed at discovering that Mel had yet one more young lady-friend on the side.  She had implied that perhaps it was time for her to get a little somethin’ somethin’ goin’ on. 

Somewhat sardonically, Mel asked, “Do you know what the difference between a wife and a girlfriend is?”  When I shook my head, he replied, “About 45 pounds!”   I gave a little smile that stayed on my face for a thoughtful moment, then said, “I’ll bet your wife is about to find out the difference between a husband and a boyfriend.”  He relied with a curious, “What?”, and wasn’t pleased with my disdainful answer when I said, “Oh, about 45 minutes!”

He sulked in silence until we parked and walked into:

Barleys Casino & Brewing Company

Where Is It?

This casino is situated out in Henderson, and is located inside the Green Valley Town Center at the corner of Sunset Road and Mountain Vista Avenue.  Don’t let the fact that it is located in a shopping plaza turn you off from checking it out.  It’s about a 10-minute drive from the southern end of the Strip, and as you’ll see in a moment, their mini-tub table is well worth the small effort to get there.

Barleys Casino & Brew Pub is part of the Station Casinos family of gaming operations.  Unfortunately, the standard Boarding Station players-card is not currently useable there, but comps are nonetheless quite easy to come by.

- mini table tour continued here