Are casinos changing the percentages?

FROM DIANE: I would like your opinion on Indian casinos in Oklahoma.

Can they change the payout with the click of a mouse when machines seem to pay more than they want since they are not regulated? Do they have "off" and "on" times where the machines pay and other times where they don't?

They are building a new hotel with a movie theater and a bowling alley at Choctaw and rarely do I hit even 20 dollars anymore. Do class 2 or 3 machines pay better and what is the difference?

Thanks for your time.

Signed: a discouraged Diane!

FRANK’S RESPONSE: “Unregulated” is a scary word as the casino can program those machines to pay back low percentages of what’s placed in them. I’d tread carefully in such cases. Usually, machines are not built with “mouse” clicks affecting them but at any time in an unregulated casino a slot mechanic can change the programming by adding a new chip.

So, bottom line, if you are truly discouraged maybe you can find another casino where you feel more comfortable. Streaks are par for the course in all gambling games but if you have bad feeling about this casino, then act on it and find another place to play.

As far as Class 2 or Class 3 machines, they can have the same paybacks; how the symbols are selected is different but the bottom line is always the same – the casino wants the edge over the players.

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

FROM JERRY: I took the GTC course in May 2007 in Tunica, Miss. Made a mock-up table and practiced every day. Through the year 2009 I had recorded 88,900 practice throws and had a SRR of about 8.5.

I continued throwing almost daily since that date but stopped recording the results. I would tell anyone who asked me that controlling the dice is very difficult. The casinos have adjusted the surface of the tables to be very bouncy.

I go to Biloxi and Tunica about twice monthly on junkets but have not been a overall winner; mostly a loser. I would suggest to anyone that throwing the dice at the craps table is somewhat like golfers. There are thousands of golfers who practice and still do not get to be in Tiger Woods’ level. There has to be a tinge of luck and mental attitude on every dice toss.

I live alone and have reached 81 years of age and live 800 miles from the nearest craps table. The junkets give me something to do and I certainly cannot take my money with me on that final trip.

I enjoy reading all of your articles.

FRANK’S RESPONSE: Jerry, I agree with you. Dice control (or dice influence as some prefer to call it) is not easy. Most people who try it give up when they realize that they must practice and keep track of their results.

The bouncy tables require a change in how you throw the dice. You must bring the dice lower and they have to hit the wall softly. The lower arc prevents the bouncy surface from returning the energy and shooting the dice into the air. This is also another difficult thing to learn.

Since you didn’t mention how you bet I hope you are not making bets you can’t overcome.

Now to the important thing – I agree with you. Enjoy your casino trips, win or lose, because the great craps game in the sky can wait.

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


FROM ABRAHAM: I look forward to buying your new book. I wrote you before that I am from Mexico City. As you already know we are starting to have mini-casinos here. They are operated by an international Spanish company Codere. They operate sportsbooks and the racetracks. This company bought a lot of places owned by Caliente.

I play craps at a big place call Hipodromo de las Americas that used to have nine craps tables, now we only have three tables. Since this company took over they do not replace the dice. I am talking of months! The dice are old, wasted, with no sharp edges. Players have asked politely but the answer is the same: “We are working on your request.”

Frank, I noticed with the old wasted dice that some numbers start coming out more than probability dictates. For example the 5 and 9 come more often than 6 and 8. A lot of players have stopped playing but I wanted to make it public.

Unfortunately we don't have a lot of places to go.

I would like to know your opinion about this.


FRANK’S RESPONSE: Not changing the dice is a bad sign. In most casinos after six to eight hours (more or less) new dice are brought in. Is it possible that the 5 and 9 are coming up more than the 6 or 8? Maybe. What is more important is that if the 5 and 9 are coming up more than probability indicates then bet the Come and back the bet with as much as you can afford in odds. If those 5s and 9s are coming up your Come bets will go to those numbers and you’ll make some good money.

If you are dissatisfied with the casino and can move to another one then that’s what you should do. If you can’t, you are stuck. If you want to play you’ll have to accept the poor conditions you’ve mentioned. I don’t envy you this problem.

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This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net.