(read part I here)
These four older gents go out to play golf. One is detained in the clubhouse to make lunch arrangements. The other three are discussing their children while walking to the first tee. “My son,” says one, “has made quite a name for himself in the home building industry. He began as a carpenter, but now owns his own design and construction firm. He’s so successful in fact, in the last year he was able to give a good friend of his, a brand new home as a gift.” The second man, not to be outdone, boasts how his son began his career as a car salesman, but now owns a multi-line dealership. “He’s so successful, in fact, in the last six months he gave a friend two brand new cars as a gift.” The third man’s son has worked his way up through a stock-brokerage firm. And in the last few weeks has given a good friend a large stock-portfolio as a gift. The fourth man finally arrives at the tee, and one of them tells him that they have been discussing their progeny and asks what line of work his son is in. “Well, to tell you the truth, I’m not very pleased with how my son has turned out,” he replies. “For fifteen years, he’s been a hairdresser, and I’ve just recently discovered he’s a very sexually-active homosexual. But on the bright side, he must be REALLY good at what he does, because his last three boyfriends have given him a brand new house, two cars, and a big pile of stock certificates.”
I’ve gotten more e-mail in the last week or so. Here’s a continuation from where we left off in Part One.
| Q: | How should I dress when I go to a Las Vegas casino? At my local casino, I usually wear blue-jeans and track shoes, is that okay? |
| A: | I’m not part of the fashion-police or the clothing-Gestapo so I won’t tell you how to dress. However, I can tell you that it is very important that you are comfortable when playing. If you don’t have freedom to move your body comfortably in your clothes, then your shooting efforts could be restricted. You want to minimize irritation. |
Personally, I like “resort casual” wear. Hi-end Golf or Polo shirts, combined with nice-looking pants and comfortable shoes, are what I find best for me. I personally like full-quill ostrich-skin shoes made in a variety of colors and styles from Bally’s. Yes, many years ago it was once part of THAT casino/fitness/bowling/clothing/financial services empire. This Swiss spin-off still produces excellent hand-made shoes.
If I am on my way out to the batting-cages, shooting-range, health club or desert-ATV-ing, I will sometimes stop at off-strip casinos. I don’t feel out of place in jeans, running shoes, track-suits, or hiking boots. I like that freshly-showered, freshly-groomed feeling regardless of what I am wearing, so I don’t go to the craps table if I am covered with desert dust or sports-sweat.
| Q: | You mentioned that you sometimes hang around with some characters who are originally from “back East.” Are they mobsters or gangsters? If so, do they play professionally too, and if not, how can they afford to play so much? |
| A: | Some of them are alleged to have ties to certain groups or organizations. None are currently listed in the Nevada Gaming Commission’s Black-Book. I have never seen them engage in any indictable offense or capital crimes. They spend a lot of time in the casinos, especially at the sports-books. They all GAMBLE full-time, and I’m sure that some of them would like to think of themselves as professionals, but that is far from the truth for a couple of them. |
They sometimes win BIG, but then they also bet HUGE. They also lose, and they usually lose LARGE. A few of them are very talented sports-handicappers who think nothing of betting $10,000 to $50,000 on a single game. Keep in mind that they may be in action on five to twenty games at the same time. I think that they play craps for the camaraderie and social aspect of the game. I would say that their loss rate when there isn’t a Precision-Shooter at their table is pretty bad. None of them has had the patience to learn that skill to any degree.
I can’t really comment on their sources of income, but they aren’t the kind of guys that you would see behind the counter of your local McDonalds. Rather, they look more like central casting just sent them over to star in the latest Francis Ford Coppala or Martin Scorsese movie. They are a friendly bunch who generally have a good time and I have never known them to cause any problems at the tables or in restaurants that we sometimes frequent.
| Q: | In Lifestyles of the Precision-Shooter, I read that you work-out while you are in Vegas. Are you a muscle-builder or something? Also if you are not a smoker, how do you handle all the casino smoke? |
| A: | I avoided Caesars during their second last renovation when there HVAC system was not removing enough smoke from the air. I do not smoke, but I also respect the rights of others who do. I work-out for about 90 minutes four times each week, and I combine it with whirlpool, sauna and massage. I also do quite a bit of outdoor activities, especially in the desert. I am NOT a body-builder of any sort. |
| Q: | I read somewhere that you said, “If you are relying on the random nature of the dice and of luck; then you are on the wrong web-site”. Don’t you think that Irishsetter’s site is too focused on dice-setting, and not on winning? |
| A: | The only way that I know how to win consistently at craps is to either become a Precision-Shooter, or seek out those that are, and profit from their rolls. Money-management and discipline are important foundations to any sort of consistent winning, but without de-randomizing the dice, you are at the whim of Lady Luck. And remember, at times she can be a real bitch. |
| Q: | Wouldn’t you be happier in a less risky career? |
| A: | No. |
| Q: | In your article Who Cooked the Golden Goose?, you said, “If you act like a gang of dice-setting terrorists, the casinos will treat you like a herd of Taliban-thieves”. Don’t you think that was a little bit harsh? |
| A: | NO! I actually softened my response about what I REALLY think. |
| Q: | Are you ever concerned about personal safety in some of these places? I’ve heard that Downtown Vegas is dangerous. |
| A: | Any gaming-resort town comes with it’s own unique set of problems. Las Vegas is no different. You should stick to the well-traveled, well-lit areas of Downtown Vegas at night if you are uncomfortable. The Freemont Street Experience is VERY safe, and the casinos there offer some of that “Old Vegas” feel. There is a high security presence at the FSE around-the-clock. |
| Q: | I have problems with one of my legs. Am I entitled to a chair when I play craps? Sometimes they let me use one, sometimes I can’t. What should I do? |
| A: | Get a letter from your doctor. Give copies of it to the Casino Manager, and give a copy to each of the Shift Managers. Also carry a copy of it with you, every time that you play. If you qualify under the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act), you are entitled to whatever reasonable accommodation at the table as your doctor might reasonably recommend. A chair is NOT an unreasonable request. The fine to a casino for non-compliance with the Act is fairly high. In most cases, it is $10,000, and is levied on a DAILY basis until they remedy the situation. |
| Q: | Don’t you get tired of being in the casinos so much? What do you do in real life? |
| A: | Real life for me, is spending 20 to 30 hours each week at the craps tables. I also see a lot of shows, and eat a lot of great meals in casino-hotels. I don’t bore easily, if at all. That may indicate that I am easily amused, or just small-minded. I would say that I probably enjoy my work quite a bit more than most people enjoy their work. When I do tire of too much resort time, I head home or to my cottage for some R & R. I am also heavily involved in motorsports to a large degree. |
| Q: | Do people ever think that you have a gambling problem? Do you think that you have a gambling problem? |
| A: | Someone asked me that same question about six years ago. I was explaining what I do for a living. As soon as you say, “Professional Gambler,” all kinds of stereotypical thoughts pop into their brains. No, I do not think that I have a gambling problem. When I am away from the casinos for any length of time, I do not have a burning desire to return to the tables. However, I no longer completely tell people what it is that I do for a living. They seem to be uncomfortably fascinated with the full truth. If they ask, I truthfully tell them about my motorsport activities, and some of my other business-related investments, but I leave out the gaming-revenue part. |
| Q: | The throw that I use is very unconventional. When some people see how weird it looks, they just shake their heads and leave the table. How do I convince them that I can throw the dice really well? |
| A: | Satisfaction should come from success, not from convincing other people that you are successful. A few people have questioned whether someone like me, could make in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in income each year from Precision-Shooting. It DOES NOT matter if they believe it or not. The fact that I do, will not change their minds. Because they are not able to do so, makes the job of convincing them even harder. Why try?! |
I can’t swing the bat like Barry Bonds, but you don’t see me saying that it can’t be done. I can say with a high-degree of likelihood that I will never bat like he does, but I don’t try to take away from what he has accomplished. Thankfully Precision-Shooting is much, MUCH easier.
We are not here on this blessed-earth to prove ourselves to anyone else but ourselves. Anyone who thinks contrary to that will NEVER reach their true and FULLEST potential, because their focus is entirely in the wrong place and on the wrong goal. That may sound egocentric, but it’s not. Rather, it is the truest of character traits and strengths that we are born with. All others are learned. Don’t be dissuaded by naysayers and other morons. The world, and therefore the craps pit, is populated by those who will put others down, usually in an attempt to bolster their own low self-esteem and self-worth. Forget and ignore those who do not believe in you. That not only goes for your dice-setting efforts, but it applies to life itself.
| Q: | There is so much information packed into your articles. How do you remember all this stuff? More importantly, how am I supposed to remember all the stuff that you say? There is no way that I could apply all of your teachings at one session at the craps table. I’m beginning to think that it’s impossible. |
| A: | It is a gradual learning process. Everything that you know today was learned over a lifetime. Precision-Shooting is not a singular skill. It is a whole process whereby you learn to earn money while playing craps. There is a lot to learn. It is not a one-dimensional game. The skill of setting and throwing has to be combined seamlessly with money-management, discipline, various betting methods, and an integrated game-plan. You should slowly apply different aspects into your game. As you reach a comfort level with each part, then you can add the next element. Don’t be surprised if you don’t notice immediate progress. Like I’ve said previously, even if you can hold a set of golf clubs properly, it doesn’t mean that you are going to outscore Tiger Woods. |
| Q: | You said that you were happy with small wins. How can you stand that? I go to the casino to win big money. There is no way that I could be satisfied with a $50 or $100 win. You must have much lower goals than I do. If you are playing for a living, how can that be? |
| A: | I play a lot of sessions per week. Some sessions only last for a couple of minutes. If I walk up to a table where the dice are near my shooting position, I will wait until I get them, them have a go. On most occasions, I will then just pick up my winnings and move on. I may only walk away with a $20 or $35 profit from those few minutes of play, but I am satisfied with it. Sure, I love monster rolls too. There is nothing quite like having a 45-minute roll that generates thousands of dollars, but it doesn’t happen all the time. Rather, it’s usually a large number of small wins that generate the lion’s share of my daily profit. I find that if I stick around waiting for someone to put together a long monster-roll; then it usually doesn’t come. Choppy tables are the norm. Long cold streaks happen quite a bit, and hot streaks are somewhat more rare. I can live with that, and I can make a living off of that. |
| Q: | I have arthritis in my hands, is there any way that you can suggest an alternative grip? |
| A: | Yes, a couple of friends have adopted a grip where the thumb grasps the two side-by-side dice, and the SIDE of their fully-clenched index finger holds the other side of the dice. The release is the same as if the dice were stacked. |
| Q: | When I get on a good roll, I have trouble keeping my mouth shut. I get carried away in the excitement, and I start to show off by calling out what is going to roll next. When I am right, everybody asks how I knew that, and I can’t help telling them about controlling the dice. What should I do? |
| A: | Part of controlling the dice, is controlling your mouth. |
| Q: | Have the events of September 11th affected your travel at all? How have the casinos been since then? I noticed some things on the news about casino lay-offs; how is the situation now? |
| A: | For the first two weeks following the tragedy business fell off, and layoffs were rampant. The major casino companies used that as an opportunity to trim their staff and focus on the bottom-line. Service in the big houses of LV has been affected, as has staff-morale. Business is back to 97% of the weekend trade, and 83% of the mid-week pre-9-11-01 trade. Layoff-callbacks have not been commensurate with that resumption of business. |
| Q: | There are a lot of “regulars” at my local casino. They are always bitching about everyone else’s bad throwing, while they do just as bad, if not worse. How do I contend with it, and how do I make immediate improvements in my game? I really want to show them a thing or two. |
| A: | I know that this is going to sound like a broken hip hop-music record that says the same thing over and over again, (it says the same thing over and over even when it isn’t broken), but you have to play your own game. Whiners will always be whiners. You want to be a winner, not whiner. |
Follow all of the step-by-step instructions that are found on this excellent site. The reason it is excellent, is because everything that you need to be a winner, is found right here.
You have to dedicate yourself to not only reading, understanding and then integrating everything into your game; you also have to put it all into constant use through diligent practice.
It does neither of us any good if I repeat everything that is already contained in my articles, as well as what other contributors have said on this site. You have to read it all, digest it, use it, and then read it all again to gain even more insight into the game. It’s not easy, but if you want to make immediate and marked improvements, I can’t think of a better way. Good Luck.
| Q: | I’ve noticed on the Message Boards on various craps sites, that some guys will be on there for a month or two, posting everyday, and then they disappear. What do you think happens to them? |
| A: | My fear is that they did not succeed in their pursuits. |
| Q: | I’ve read all the posts on some other Boards. There seems to be a lot of bitterness between the “math” guys, and normal players. Which category would you put yourself into? |
| A: | I’ve never fit into neatly-labeled categories in my life. I am a player who understands both the math and the dynamics of the game. I choose to de-randomize the dice as a way of generating profit. |
| Q: | I don’t believe in Precision-Shooting or anything like that, but I would like to know if there is a betting system that I could use, so that I could earn decent money while playing craps? |
| A: | NO. |
| Q: | When I am at the casino, I feel more relaxed if I have a drink or two. You say not to drink. Isn’t there a compromise? |
| A: | Alcohol is the lubricant that the casino uses to separate a player from his money. If you are the rare exception; CHEERS! |
| Q: | Why is it so hard to find empty tables? |
| A: | Many people hate playing at empty tables. Most are self-conscious about being a solo player. I personally LOVE it. The casinos recognize that problem, and they gear their staffing to closely coincide with expected customer traffic. |
Most dealers have “multi-game” abilities, the Shift Manager is able to move them around to suit casino needs. They would rather have a couple of full or semi-full tables instead of many that are sparsely populated. The reasons are two-fold. One is the human-labor cost, but an equally important reason is group-dynamics.
Most players are hesitant to leave a full-table, especially if the only other ones that are open are also full. There is a “load-factor/betting-velocity” that takes place at gaming tables, especially craps. When one or two people are betting big, then a lot of other people, for a multitude of reasons, will follow suit. The reasons do not necessarily have to do with good betting situations. It has more to do with “following the leader” or taking part in a group-related activity where the human brain goes on an accelerated betting process. It sometimes speeds out of control into a betting frenzy.
Have you ever seen a table where the dice start to go on a warm-streak and the betting starts to get pretty big? All of a sudden, a 7-Out wipes out the hand just as things are looking hot. Most people will have left way more money exposed on the layout than they locked-up in profit on their racks. That is precisely what the casino is counting on. So even during a good hand, the casino is confident that it isn’t going to lose too much money to everyone. They know that greed will temper the house-loss. THAT is why they like to keep the tables full.
| Q: | The other night, my Casino Host that I’ve known for three years, invited me out for dinner at the new gourmet restaurant that just opened in my home casino. My wife wasn’t with me, and he said that he knew that, and that was the reason for the invitation. He’s comped the both of us really well in the past. I was kind of surprised, and I’m definitely not gay, so what do you think he wanted? Do you think that they’ve noticed that I’ve been winning consistently for the last two months? Should I switch hosts, or just avoid him? What would you do? |
| A: | I have a feeling that he wasn’t coming on to you. Merely, he was being the congenial host that he is paid to be. I dine with hosts probably three to five times each week. Sometimes it is with my girlfriend and I, and sometimes it is just with me. I can also tell you that I am not gay either. |
Whether it be for a breakfast buffet, a light lunch, or a gourmet dinner, I have never had a problem with a host in the way that you suggest. Don’t give up a host who gives you the complete run of that house; and don’t avoid him either. He is offering you all the great things that a casino has to offer. I would be a gracious guest, and take him up on the invitation.
I might even write an article on the subject of dining with your casino host in the near future. It’s a way to garner even greater comp-benefits at a later date. When the casino refunds your first-class airfare, supplies a car, a deluxe suite and full dining privileges at all of their restaurants, it is because you have groomed your host to provide ALL of the premium perks. It’s all based on ratings and the relative importance that the player-development department places on your level of casino-action. It has little or nothing to do with whether you consistently win or lose.
Thanks so much for all the great questions, folks.
Good Luck & Good Skill at the Tables…and in Life.
The Mad Professor
