How to Build a Cardboard Craps Practice Rig
Found these great videos from KogaNinja777 for a getting started with a cardboard Craps practice rig for dice throwing. In the absence of anything to practice with I’m going to build one of these.
CJ
How to Build a Craps Table
This is one very interesting topic as I have always wondered how a Craps table is made, and since I’ve loved the game for over 20 years, always wanted one of my own.
I honestly believe that a finished Craps table can be classified as a piece of art.
I have limited space so I need to have a mini tub style 1.8m (6ft) – 2.4m (8ft)
I’ve looked and looked for a place that sells them but alas can’t seem to find anywhere. If you know of somewhere please leave me a comment.
In the absence of buying one, I’ll have to make one, or convince someone else with more woodworking skills and equipment to build one for me as a worthy project. I’m thinking maybe one of the local Mens Sheds would be able to help me out for a nice donation to their very worthy cause.
I think it all starts with the felt layout, so I’m going to source that first and then build the table up around it.
I’ll be documenting the journey, which is the purpose of this website for my own selfish diarised record and others will benefit as well.
In the mean time I’ve scoured the internet looking for “how to build a craps table” resources and found that quite a few people have the same idea.
Here are some plans – http://www.dicesetter.com/Dice%20Help/Craps.tableplans.htm
Great forum post, it’s a long read but worth it – http://perfectmancave.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35540
Awesome build, and detailed photos, look back through the site to see the whole project – http://www.claytonfelt.com/12-foot-craps-part-16
Another great home build – http://www.ricefamilyweb.com/crapstable
Here is a to buy table to give you an idea of a smaller design – http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/350721239119
A sensational build from Good Fellas Gambling – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.203335223014871.59216.113434712004923&type=3
Out of all the designs you can pick and chose how you want to build your craps table. Take ideas from each of them and model to your requirements.
CJ
Breaking Vegas – Dice Dominator
Just found this documentary about Craps which for me was very interesting, but for those that have been around this niche for awhile this story will be old news.
And then found this interesting snippet from over here at Smart Gaming
How accurate was the History Channel show (The Dice Dominator) about you?
The show put me in with a dice control team at the beginning of my career and that the classes they taught were actually to get members for their team. Not so. That team bet low stakes and I was never involved with them. Also, most of the players on that team were not really all that skilled so that was inaccurate. Both Frank Scoblete and I discussed the Captain, the man who started all this dice control stuff in the modern casino, and his partner the Arm for several hours with the producer but none of that appeared in the show. However, the show did portray accurately how I am in a casino and the work I put in to the developing of my skill. Frank Scoblete, unfortunately, was portrayed as someone who was a lowlife instead of someone with three master’s degrees who is a real gentleman.
CJ
My Very First Craps Adventure in 1992
My very first Craps adventure was at Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast back in 1992. If only my friends and I looked like those folks huddled around the Craps table in the image above. What a different life I would have led.
Anyway I have spent a bit of time at Jupiters Casino over the years and it all started when I was 18 and by Australian law an adult and legally be able to gamble and drink (and other things). There was more than one time that I can’t remember how I got home, or even more to the point how I got home in one piece. The feeling of youth and invincibility. Those days are far behind me now.
I can remember going into the casino for the first time with my two good friends and having the door guards look me up and down. How young we must have looked. I shudder to think of it now.
My friends had more of a grasp of card games than I did and we settled down at a Black Jack table. I can remember feeling uncomfortable but my friends were into it so I persisted. I can’t remember much else except the feeling of unease. We also tried Roulette and I also felt uneasy. Thinking on it now, I can distill that feeling of unease into a feeling of not being in control.
My thoughts have always been why would I gamble on something that I don’t have an edge or control over. I know now that I’m a very risk averse type of personality so these feelings of unease with those other table games now makes perfect sense.
I can recall that when we worked our way around to the Craps table and I leaned in over the padded edge something was different with this game to the others. You got to choose the dice and throw the dice and get involved, both on your roles and those around you, it was exciting and had a high contact and interaction factor.
Since we were all quite savvy in the maths department the probability of the games was not lost on us. Once the rules were explained to us by the helpful people betting around us, we got involved. Initially I was betting with the others at the table on the Pass Line, and I remember switching over to the Don’t Pass line (what I know now to be Dark Side behaviour) since I saw lots of sevens coming up and thought it made sense to do so.
I fairly quickly deduced that 7 was the best number probability wise to roll. And being that I have a very thick skin, and don’t care what other people think of me, I haven’t wavered from that Dark Side since. Even betting against my friends. They fortunately understood and tolerated me.
I can recall spending lots of hours at the craps table with $50 buy in, just sticking with Dark Side Don’t Pass line bets, no odds, no other bets.
My friends were more liberal with their bets, and would do place bets on the inside numbers, and center table betting on the hard ways and horn bets.
They would either walk away with heaps of chips or none. I would always walk away with the same amount or a small profit.
I was happy, they were happy, and we all enjoyed the game of Craps.
Unfortunately I don’t see much if any of those friends any more, just over time you drift apart, with work and family, however I know that if I was to put the word out and mention that we should have a casino night, we would all be back at the Craps table again and enjoying many hands, good or bad. The only difference this time, will be that I have started my Craps education. I now know the basic betting strategies and will definitely be playing my Dark Side with more authority and conviction.
My 1997 Honeymoon Trip – Craps Were a Highlight
Embarking on this journey to dive into the craps abyss has led me to think back to 1992 when I first played the game. I’ll discuss those early sessions in another post. What struck me this morning was that I had totally forgotten about my honeymoon back in April 1997. My lovely wife and I spent a few nights at the Sheraton Mirage on the Gold Coast, and then a couple of nights in the penthouse suites of Jupiters Hotel & Casino also on the Gold Coast.
Now I can’t exactly remember the reason why we picked Jupiters Casino out of all the places to go, but we had stayed there before and I had spent a fair bit of time there over the years even holidaying there in my early twenties and being a member of the nightclub as well. We took in a show and had room service and did all the good things you do when on your honeymoon.
The penthouse suite was as you would expect, large, inviting and there was a large balcony overlooking the Gold Coast strip, it was a very nice setup, except you could hear the constant thumping of the bass from the nightclub many floors below us. While that was something I enjoyed just a few years earlier, I like quiet when I sleep, and I would have thought that the penthouse would have sound proofing on the windows to not have this issue.
Out of everything from that honeymoon week, oddly enough, what I remember the most is the breakfasts we had at the Sheraton Mirage hotel and heading down to the casino @ Jupiters for the last 2 nights and leaving my new bride in the penthouse house to entertain herself, while I indulged in my own crapulance session. Crazy yes, but it’s what I did.
Jupiters unfortunately only has one craps table, and I remember it was fairly busy and I had to wait for a spot, which was really the only time that has ever happened to me. It wasn’t long before I grabbed a spot. I always seem to end up at the end of the table, I’ve never yet been next to the stick person or the dealers.
It was the biggest buy in I had done up to that point, I still remember laying out 2 x $100 notes which at the time was a lot of money for me, however I figured it was my honeymoon and I wouldn’t be in this position ever again. Turns out to be true.
I can’t recall any hands of course being 18 years ago, but I do remember playing for about 2 hours on the don’ts and coming away even. I cashed my chips out and went back to find the wife asleep and in no mood to continue the party as I had hoped.
PS Not much has changed in 18 years. But I hope that using this craps journey I can educate myself to consistently be profitable and stay at some of the wonderful casino’s around the world and have some fun.
