Holy Craps - Reno, Oregon & Washington Casinos

No Las Vegas content here, but I just had to share the most remarkable gambling experience I can ever imagine.

My wife doesn't really like gambling nor gambling towns, so I have to get it when I can. She and my 2 year old were going to visit family in the Midwest, so I had a few days on my own. I decided to make a quick run to see the Railroad Museum in Sacramento, and spend a night in Reno. I also had a quick trip to Seattle to make, so I thought I would visit at least one casino near there. I would have never in a million years guessed what happened in Washington State.

I drove from Portland to Sacramento, and on the way down stopped for the first time at the Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville, OR. This is a a decent little place right off the I-5.

I have read a bit about dice setting for craps, and have tried it without success a few times before. But since I feel like I look like I know what I am doing, I tried again. There was no one else on the table, so I could set up wherever I wanted. Being right handed, I set up next to the stick so I could shoot right handed. I lost my allocated $100 in about 20 minutes, and so I was back in the car.

I played two more times in Reno at the Atlantis with no luck, again shooting right handed.

A few days later, I found myself at the Muckleshoot Casino near Seattle. I was there late on a Sunday, and the place was crowded. I still couln't shoot worth a darn (right handed), but the place had a lot of serious looking Asians, a few of whom could shoot. I made $500 from my $100 starting fund, so I was feeling happy about recouping what I lost in Reno and Oregon and then some.

The next day, I needed to return to Portland. I had some time though, so I stopped for one last try at the Emerald Queen in Tacoma. The table was crowded, so I squeezed into the only available spot. This spot required me to shoot left handed down the whole length of the table. I put my $100 down, and was down to about $30 when the dice came to me. I set the dice, and off I went. Folks, it was a thing of beauty. I rolled for about an hour, making about $1200 on my hand. I play an unusal self-designed system which always increases the amount of money I am betting, so a long roll can make a lot of money. Man did I make money. I hit about 5 points, and just tons of 8s and 6s. After making one point, I rolled 17 times without setting the new point. Anyone with money on the Horn was raking it in.

My hand finally ended, and I was shaking. I immediately colored up and left because I was in no position to shoot again. As the boxman was taking care of the chips, half of the table came up to me to thank me for the great roll. Just Awesome.

So I get in my car and drive. After a while I settle down and start thinking the inevitable thought. Could I do that again? Much to my delight I see a sign for the Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester, so off I go. When I get there, the table is reasonably crowded, and I find myself in the same spot on the table as before. When I get the dice, I go on another long roll, and make another $500. Unbelievable. I seven out, and I am shaking again. I go play slots to cool down.

I decided to give it one more go. By now the table was empty. I guess they were all locals who saw a good thing and left soon after my roll. Not thinking too straight at this point, I decide to shoot left-handed, but where I am much closer to the wall. In about 15 minutes I lost $100, and I wisely hit the door.

Of course now I thinking, "Why didn't I stand where I was before when I couldn't miss", but I'll have to test that idea another time.

The bigger question of course is did I just experience the top 2 best hands of my life, or can I possibly do it again?

Thanks for letting me share. Please let me know if you have any questions about the casinos I visited, or if you want more information about how I bet craps.

 

That's an awesome story I think. Of course I don't shoot craps - I just don't understand the game at all and believe me I've tried.

Glad to hear you had a good time.

 

Hey Kathy,

You shouldn't give up on craps--it's the greatest game in the casino. I know it's confusing and all, but all it takes is time and money--just like anything else.

In about 4 weeks, we're gonna teach Hoya the finer points of the dice game, and she's gonna clean up!

Anybody can learn the game if you have the proper instructor...Heck, give me enough bananas, I could teach a monkey to play craps!!!

Anyhow, Oregon guy, that's a great story. I'm not sure if I'm sold on dice setting myself, though. I tend to remember the times it works and forget the times I get crushed... But, just like your left-handed tossing, I've found a groove that I like to use. Of course when I can't hit any numbers with it, it must be just bad luck...

And I think we're all guilty of trying to press a winning streak a little, but hey, you sound like you got out pretty close to the right time.

Mikey

 

Ooh-ooh-ooh Ahh-ahh-ahh.

Hubby says I do a frighteningly good monkey impersonation

 

Good gambling run OregonGuy!
Did you parlay or press all your bets?
What set were you using? I started with the Flying 3V and then changed to the crossed sixes mixed with that and the 3 on top the 1... I am T-68 hours and counting!!! been practicing at home all week and getting concerned. I only had one long roll of 32 rolls, with many short 7-out rolls.
Maybe I should try left handed???
Actually, the jury is still out as like Mikey, I have not had but a couple good runs at an actual casino. I usually do well at home practicing, then lose a hundred quick at the casino and go back to practicing.
This trip will tell the tale and I will report on the dice setting method...
Good luck and if you want good reading tips on setting, go to Heavy's web-site, dicesetter.com

 

Thanks, Kenny. I don't know if I'll ever have a run like that again, but I am trying to convince myself that it wasn't purely luck.

On come-out rolls I used the straight-sixes. After a point was established, I used the flying V (3s).

I held the dice tighly next to each other, tossing in a gentle arc. I attempted to hit the felt just before the back wall.

I had $5 on the line, and put down double odds. If I made the point, I increased the odds to 3X and so on, until I needed to raise the line bet.

I placed $10 on the 5 and $12 each on the 6 and 8. If either the 6 or 8 hit, I pressed them both $6. If the 5 hit I pressed it $5. I never increased the amount I was pressing, finding it a good compromise between being able to win more but also putting more and more in my pocket. When I finally 7'd, I had $96 on the 8 and 6.

I also put $5 on the field, and if it hit I would raise it $5 each time. As soon as the field didn't hit, I went back to $5. This was fun, as every roll after the point was established the dealer was pushing chips at me.

After having a chance to reflect on what happened, next time I am going to do 2 things differently. First of all, it is clear to me know that I was hitting craps on the come-out roll far more than odds would dictate. Therefore I am going to play the horn on the comeout. At one point I hit 17 non-points in a row on the comeout (I was told this later by a guy on the table - I wasn't counting). I do know that nearly half of them were craps, with the balance almost all 7s (a few 11s).

Second, although the field bet was fun, I don't think it made its money back. Instead, I think I'll start with $5 each on the 5 and 9 and $12 each on the 6 and 8. I'd continue to press both the 6 and 8 $6 if either hit, and press the 5 or 9 individually $5 when one hits. If things were rolling, I might add $5 on the 4 and 10 as well.

Good luck setting the dice on your trip, Kenny. For me setting the dice is a bit like my golf game. It is probably a bit silly for me to aim that flag. I could aim at the water and probably have the same result. But dang it, you just have to try to do it the best way possible. You might hit the water anyway, but if you do it get within 2 feet of the whole, you feel like a god. For me, that is more fun than just whacking away and leaving it up to fate.

dicesetter.com is where I learned what little I know, but thanks for the tip anyway.

I am hoping to sneak away on Wednesday to the nearest Indian casino, and I'll let you know if lightening can strike again!

 

Good luck on the run tomorrow OregonGuy. Remember, you can take it easy on the bets when others are shooting and leave fate in your own hands. The 5-count works good for that. I need to remember that more, as I get to caught up in betting all shooters and should watch and be more conservative, even go the dark side if the shooter warrents it.
I even tried the left hand today and actually had a few real good rolls off the bat...
This gives me options depending on what spot is open!
Thanks again for the insight.
oh, by the way, I noticed the field bet trend too like you, but then I calculated the percentages and actually it was not as good as it seemed when rolling. My numbers seem to be more the 9,6,8 on the crossed 6's.. 5,6, & 8 on the 3-V...