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Table Games Bucket List Item – 100 times Odds Craps Bet

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by FABismonte, Aug 8, 2016.

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  1. FABismonte

    FABismonte Tell my wife I am "about even."

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    I have played craps for many years. Most of them were at places which either offered double odds or perhaps 3, 4, 5, odds (often at the strip). Occasionally, I would play at a casino which offered ten times odds like the El Cortez in downtown Vegas. Only in Harrah’s Horseshoe at Hammond, Indiana do I recall I played at a casino which offered 100 times odds. However, I never played full odds because I never had the bankroll to put full odds when I was in Indiana.

    A couple of weeks ago, I was in Vegas with two pals of mine who graduated with me some 30 years ago: Mr. S and Mr. C. After many free Diamond Lounge drinks, we were bantering back and forth about the making a casino bet where the house had no advantage. We chatted of course about Blackjack but that required a lot of concentration and some camouflage. At any rate was not news that if once counted cards, one could beat the casino – unless/until you were kicked out.

    We also discussed craps and noted that free odds bets had no casino advantage but of course you need to first make a pass line bet where the casino had a small edge. Mr. C noted that he saw a sign at the Cromwell where it was advertising 100 times odds on craps and that morning had a $5 minimum table. But we noted that no one we knew would make a $500 odds bet on a $5 pass line bet. Therefore, I joked to Mr. S that all he needed to do to avoid any house edge was talk Mr. C in making a pass line bet, then add his money to an odds behind Mr. C’s.

    Mr. C. then connected the dots that we could share the action on the odds to make a 100 times odds bet. This triggered a long dormant desire in me to make a 100 times odds bet at least once in my life. This was on my bucket list but I was never comfortable putting such a high percentage of my bankroll into one roll of the dice. Also, I feared that if I won, I might be tempted to keep going until I lost. But if we shared the free odds among the three of us, it would be a way to handle the variance.

    We then discussed the logistics of this bet among the three of us. We agreed to share the bet three ways, about $167 per man. We would go to the Cromwell, make a single $500 odds pass line bet, and leave --- win or lose. Additionally, to reduce the variance, we would only put the full odds on the pass line bet if the point was a six or an eight. We certainly would not make such a bet on a four or ten as we had twice as much chance for a losing Seven than a winning point. The fact that I had my buddies with me made this bucket list bet more exciting and also would be peer pressure not to press any winning or steam if we lost.


    We then finished our drinks at the Harrah’s Diamond Lounge and headed over to the Cromwell. When we got there it was the afternoon and we found that the minimum bet was raised to $10. Mr. C noted that the house edge was still miniscule if we had a $10 pass line bet and $500 odds, but we quickly noted that it would defeat the bucket list dream of full 100 times odds bet.


    I then suggested that we head over to the Casino Royale where they also advertised 100 times odds and probably did not have more than $5 minimums in the afternoon. As we walked up there, we discussed that it would seem to make unnecessary work for the craps dealers to buy in for $500 plus then cash out after one pass. So we thought it would be more “polite” to buy the chips at the Casino Royale cashier. It was agreed I would bet for all of us. When we got there, we verified that the craps table at Casino Royale was relocated near the back of the casino, toward the snack bars, and was open with $5 minimums. Here is a photo of the 100 times odds advertising sign. To be continued . . .

    Casino Royale left.jpg
     
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  2. FABismonte

    FABismonte Tell my wife I am "about even."

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    As we approached the cashier to buy the chips, Mr. S started having cold feet. He said that he had already lost on the trip and was not excited about making a $167 bet on ONE roll of the dice. In fairness, he was never as big a gambler as Mr. C and I. Mr. C and I welcomed him to put as little as he wanted into the gambit. He said he was comfortable putting in $100. So we then amended our own little “corporation” by having a $200 investment from both Mr. C and I for the odds with $100 from Mr. S. We would divide up our anticipated winnings proportionally to our bet so we shared 40%-40%-20%. At my suggestion, we also agreed that for simplicity sake I would own the pass line bets, and win or lose, keep the pass line results for myself. I then walked up the cashier with $525 dollars and asked for five black ($100) and five red chips ($5). The cashier replied that we could not buy chips at the cashier and we could only do so at the tables. I pointed out the rack of black chips beside her and said “you cannot sell me any of those?” The answer was “no” coupled with a bit of an eye roll. So defeated by the cashier, we went off the craps table -- cash in hand.


    There were two craps tables, but only one was open. On the open one was a fairly large gap to the stick right and the three of us walked up to that gap. To our immediate right was a young woman who had the point on nine, a $5 pass line bet and was rolling with ten odds. The minimum bet on the craps table sign was $5 with 100 times odds. While she was rolling I read the sign again and was confused as it also stated “closed 5 AM to 9 AM.” I thought that it was possible that the 100 times odds were for specific time frames and asked the dealer for clarification. He said we could make 100 times bets now, and the time on the sign simply noted when the craps table was closed. I guess there was not enough action justify manning the tables in the wee morning hours.


    After about five rolls, the young woman shooter made a “seven out.” I then dropped five Benjamins, a Jackson and a Lincoln and said “five black and five red please.” The dealer, then repeated what I said. The box woman, not as bored as she was a second ago, picked up five black from the middle of the table and pushed them out and I was slipped five more red chips. The dealer also raised my Benjamins to the light and checked them out to reduce the chance they were counterfeit. I then placed a $5 chip on the passline. I was prepared to wait until a point of 6 or 8. The dice were passed to the other side of the table to a middle aged woman, passing me by. I did not expect to get the dice since I had not been playing, in truth I did not want the added pressure of rolling as well. As if the gambling gods heard my inchoate prayer, a point of six was immediately made. I then put $500 odds behind our bet. Here is a photo of our bet which I sneaked in without being tossed out of the place. To be continued. . .
    Casino Royale 2.jpg
     
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  3. FABismonte

    FABismonte Tell my wife I am "about even."

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    An advantage for us having the dice passed to the other side of the table was we had a front row view of the dice as they stopped on our end of the table. The shooter then rolled … a four. OK, no result. She then rolled a few craps numbers, like two threes and a snake eyes. Then she rolled . . . an eight! The OTHER number we would have been willing to put a $500 odds bet behind. Mr. C exclaimed that could have been our number!


    At this point, my heart was racing. I could feel my chest as my check was tightening and my arteries were doing jackhammer like effort. I have been playing craps for many years but the size of the bet, and the fact that all three of us were on it, got me really excited. I told Mr. C that I was really nervous. Mr. C said so was he. Mr. S did not respond. He simply stared at the felt of the craps table.


    The shooter then rolled . . . a Nine. No action for us. Then the shooter rolled again . . . the dice bounced around on our end revealing a four and a . . . two for a beautiful total of SIX!!!! We screamed, and pumped our fists. The other side of the table was happy as well as they made the point. The dealer put a red chip next to our passline bet and six black next to our odds bet.


    I place the two $5 chips into the Come area and said “for the dealers” and got a polite, but not overly enthusiastic “thank you.” I then excited picked up the eleven black chips, and tossed the left over 4 red chips to the shooter. She was surprised by the chips flying her way and so I approached as said I had a $500 line bet so the $20 was for you. In retrospect I am not sure I should have tossed so much to the shooter, but was happy that the red chips were mine alone so I did not have to divide it up with my buddies and justify the tips.


    I then pointed out the closed craps table and suggested we move there for some celebration photos. I then laid all eleven black chips on that table and took the photo below.

    Casino Royale 3.jpg
     
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  4. FABismonte

    FABismonte Tell my wife I am "about even."

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    We went to the cashier to cash out our chips. The cashier promptly picked up the phone to verify whether there was a problem cashing in our chips. Since she eventually handed out cash, I presume I was able to escape any further scrutiny and/or am not heading to Vegas Metro or Guantanamo Bay. We asked that one Benjamin be broken into twenties for change. I wonder if the cashier thought we were going to tip her, but I was not interested in doing so.

    So we divided up the wealth with winnings of $240 each for me and Mr. C and $120 for Mr. S. We then went to the nearby White Castle at Casino Royale for a bag of sliders to celebrate! The last time I had sliders was in the Midwest when we were at school so it was the perfect celebration cuisine to check the 100 times odds bet off my bucket list.
     
  5. gotChopin

    gotChopin Low-Roller

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    Awesome read so happy for you guys. Great detailed report on all logistics and psychology and emotion!
     
  6. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

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    well done sir. :nworthy:

    i did the same on my 50th birthday, but i waited till i was the shooter.

    one red on the line, rolled a 6. dropped five benjamins behind and threw out a green for hard 6.
    the dealer exchanged the cash and placed the blacks behind me.
    4 rolls later, 3/3. BINGO!

    had the same experience cashing out as i had one purple in the mix.
    they called the pit and i could see the critter nodding yes:haha:
    i was with 6 others that all dot in on the action but no one took more than 10x odds and a dollar hard 6
     
  7. TIMSPEED

    TIMSPEED Money’s on the way, with CashNetUSA

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    Nice!
    I've been there before..except not with 100x odds (just 345); I parlayed my winnings up from a $5 pass with 345 up to $100 pass with $500 odds on a 6...it also hit (and looking back I should have parlayed ONCE MORE) but that $1300 chip drag off my original $25 was pretty damn sweet.
     
  8. boxofbirds

    boxofbirds Royally Flushed

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    Nice, thanks for the story! I don't have a bucket list, but 100x odds on craps is definitely on my list of crazy bets I would make if I hit a jackpot in Vegas. :rolleyes:
     
  9. FABismonte

    FABismonte Tell my wife I am "about even."

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    Thanks for the compliment, I am glad you enjoyed the adventure. BTW, Mr. S later told me that while he was silent when I expressed my nerves, he felt in his heart that a six was going to arrive and so did not respond because he did not want to jinx us.
     
  10. FABismonte

    FABismonte Tell my wife I am "about even."

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    Hi BLM:

    Congratulations on that hit. The fact that it was a Hard Six must have been doubly sweet.

    If I had to do it over, I would have placed my unbet $20 in chips on the hard six. Of course it would have lost, but at that point, if I had lost the pass line bet, it would have been a walk of shame to cash in the $20.So I would have felt better just going down in flames.
     
  11. FABismonte

    FABismonte Tell my wife I am "about even."

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    Hi Timspeed,

    The closest thing that happened to me was hitting a five point fire bet when I was nearly out of chips. You should have no regrets about not parlaying again, as I often leave too many chips on the felt myself.
     
  12. hail2skins

    hail2skins VIP Whale

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    Too funny! Didn't the Riviera have 1000x odds for a period of time within the past few years before it closed?

    I agree that I'd probably to be (or a member of the group) to be rolling the dice in the scenario. The casino should allow you three guys to alternate rolling in such a situation (although I know they wouldn't)!
     
  13. vegasvic

    vegasvic VIP Whale

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    Great story. I never thought of spitting up the odds bet like that. Next time I go with others (next week is just my GF and I) I'm going to try to get that to happen.
     
  14. Ty

    Ty ?

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    I enjoyed your 100x odds experience. Thanks for sharing!
     
  15. Fet297

    Fet297 113 survivor North Vegas

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    You probably gave the pit at CR indigestion. I hear they sweat large bets. Thanks for sharing - I always wondered who could lay 100x odds. Never thought of pooling, how awesome!:clap:
     
  16. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Thats the 2nd favorite thing I read in your post my first being your awesome win.
     
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  17. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Yes. I wonder if anyone really made them sweat over that...and I don't think it's a gimmick that's useful past 100X. RIP Riv.

    Oh I'm sure they weren't happy. They had to verify an $1100 table win via a phone call, ffs. I'm happy FAB (and Mike) stuck it to them!
     
  18. Bcartel

    Bcartel Tourist

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    Classic Vegas feel good story! Now you & the fellas will have a great story to share.
     
  19. Dr Nostron

    Dr Nostron VIP Whale

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    This is great - me and my buddies gonna do this in September!!!
     
  20. tex55

    tex55 High-Roller

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    Great story! I have always dreamed about doing something like that. Maybe someday.....
     
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