8 Common Craps Superstitions Debunked
Introduction
True-blue gamblers are a superstitious lot . More than a few retail and online gamblers will go into the “gambling wars” carrying with them a long list of myths and superstitions that often defy logic . The casino game of choice is irrelevant; there are myths and superstitions that have been created behind every casino game on the planet .
Indeed, that includes the exciting game of craps .
On the list of retail and online casino games that give the house its least favorable odds, craps ranks right there with baccarat at roughly 1.6% on certain types of wagers . That’s a percentage that astute craps players can overcome if they understand and closely follow the basics . The enemy of any craps player is buying into myths that don’t pass muster .
As you ply your trade as a retail or online craps player, you would be well served to ignore the myths and superstitions . Here are a few of those myths that you should avoid due to constant debunking .
Online Casino Myths
The Online Craps Game is Rigged
It’s easy to question the results of any online casino game outcome . After all, players don’t get to see the cards being shuffled or the dice being held by a shooter . When a bad result occurs, doubt often follows .
Setting aside the very rare rogue online casino operators, the remaining online casinos don’t need to cheat . After all, the statistical odds are always in their favor . As a check against any attempts to cheat, most online gambling regulatory bodies require that all games be audited by an independent statistical auditing firm like eCOGRA . The auditing process is done to ensure that the embedded Random Number Generator (RNG) is providing random results that are free from casino manipulation .
Note: Accusations of cheating are far less common in a retail casino setting because players can see and touch the game .
Myths About Probability and Luck
Past Rolls Influence Future Outcomes
A common misunderstanding of the laws of probability causes strife for many casino gamblers . They tend to live with the belief that a prior outcome affects the outcome of current or future rolls . We’ll use a coin flip as an example: The odds on an initial coin flip are 50% heads and 50% tails . Many people believe that if heads lands the first time, tails becomes more likely the second time. Never true .
With each flip, the odds remain the same. This also applies to the roll of two dice . Rolling a seven on the “come-out roll” does not diminish the likelihood of it happening again on the next roll .
The First-Time Roller
In life, we tend to think that beginners are luckier, believing that fate gives them the advantage because of ignorance . This superstition is very prevalent at the craps table. It’s simply amazing how many experienced craps players will load up the board if they discover the shooter is shooting dice for the first time .
To be clear, craps is a game of statistical outcomes . There is nothing magical a “virgin shooter” can do to change that fact .
Table Etiquette and “Jinxes”
The No-Shout Seven
Amazingly, this is a myth or superstition that seems to plague both novice and experienced craps players . Collectively, they hate to hear people verbally calling out for a seven, especially on a post-come-out roll .
To be blunt, dice do not have ears or brains . There is nothing that someone can shout that is going to result in a pair of dice doing exactly what has been called out by a player, good or bad .
Flying Dice
When a good roll gets going, it’s a little annoying when one of the dice inadvertently flies off the table . In the eyes and mind of a superstitious player, that only serves to disrupt the flow of the roll . Guess what? This myth doesn’t hold water either since the die doesn’t know it flew off the table .
Yes, this superstition only applies to retail and live online craps games . By the way, a sudden changing of the dice would also fall under this strain of superstition . It can be especially disconcerting if it happens in the middle of a roll . For that reason, dice are seldom removed from play until a roll has been completed .
Changing the Stick Person
If you have ever played blackjack, you have likely experienced a dealer change in the middle of a shoe . Players presume the casino makes such moves in an attempt to slow down or cool down hot players . Honestly, this is a myth created by such actions taking place during a movie or TV show . They’ll even say they are changing dealers to one they might refer to as a “cooler” .
The reality is that craps and blackjack dealers, as well as roulette croupiers, have to work as scheduled . In many cases, the length of time they can work during one session is dictated by law . There’s no need to take it personally if they change the stickman after a few craps rolls that have favored the players .
Joining Mid-Roll Games
Here is another myth that seems to target the flow of a roll . When a shooter gets hot, there seems to be an overwhelming desire on the part of the participants to maintain the status quo until the roll has been completed . If you have ever jumped into a game mid-roll and become the victim of rolling eyes or comments, this is likely the reason why .
Again, the dice are completely unaware of who is at the table from one roll to the next . The addition or subtraction of a player will not influence outcomes .
Betting Strategy Myths
Playing Systems Work
In the world of gambling myths, this is the one that gets mentioned the most . Throughout the years, astute gamblers have been laying claim to having developed systems that will help “beat the house” . You’ll see heavily promoted systems for slots, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and yes, craps. It’s time to be blunt again .
Playing systems that work are pure myth. We know that because all casino games, retail or online, are built around the laws of probability . There is nothing a human can do to change the spin of a reel, the flip of a card, or the roll of dice . To be clear, there is nothing a human can do .
At best, there are some systems out there that can help casino players better manage their money . If a player properly plays a particular casino game like craps while managing their money as effectively as possible, they can often reduce the house’s edge to the stated minimum . The Martingale money management system works well on games like blackjack and roulette, where certain outcomes have a close to 50/50 chance of occurrence . Such systems don’t work well for craps .
If you want to play around with a craps system, we would recommend that you consider using:
- The Iron Cross System
- The Hammerlock System
- Risk 12 (A.k.a. A Strategy For Low Rollers)
- Knockout
- Dice Doctor (A.k.a. “The Best” Craps System)
Conclusion
As you partake in any form of retail or online gambling, you need to do so as responsibly as possible . That means never gamble with money that you can’t afford to lose .
Of the table games you’ll encounter online or in a retail casino, craps is often considered the most exciting because there are dozens of wagering possibilities . It’s because of these wagering possibilities that so many myths and superstitions have evolved . Our advice is this: Learn the rules of craps and play to the best of your ability with no regard for any of the aforementioned myths and superstitions .