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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

Las Vegas is a top destination for strip clubs. They not be the best clubs in the world but they're huge and are filled with hundreds of mostly naked women. The clubs and the strippers are experts at getting all your money. But Vegas has much more happening, 24 hours a day, and gambling is at the top of the list. Gambling and strippers just seem to fit together. It works for Vegas so, I thought it may work here at tuscl.

While there are many ways to lose your money, craps is the most fun of all table games and you'll get the best chances of winning in the casino. It can be played alone but is really great at a hot table full of players. It's kind of “us against the casino” and players are cheering for each other. It's also the game where a player controls the action by rolling the dice. When the shooter gets on a hot roll it becomes a partying, gambling experience unlike any other. Although the house has an edge, as always, it is one of the lowest edges in the casino. Blackjack has a lower edge, if you play perfect strategy, but your odds of winning a single bet can be much higher in craps.

Craps can seem complicated because there are so many different bets and it seems to have a language of its own. If it's crowded you'll hear players shout $5 yo, all the hard ways, C & E, big red or around the world while they seem to be throwing chips everywhere. Don't worry, you'll catch on quickly.

First, the basics; All you need to know is the pass line bet to get started. The basic idea behind craps is to establish a "point" number on the first roll, or “come out” roll and than roll that same number again before rolling a 7. You place your pass line bet before the come out roll of a new game. You can tell it is a come out roll if there is a black marker on the table that says "off." It looks like a hockey puck. You place the bet yourself between the lines where “pass line” is written. Simply put it down right in front of you. Bet the table minimum here. We'll save the big money for a better bet later. If the come out roll is a 7 or 11, then you win even money and the dealers will place your winnings beside your bet. If the come out roll is a 2, 3, or 12, then you lose the bet. If any other total is rolled (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) that total is called "the point." The dealer will turn over the marker that says "off" to the white "on" side, and place it on a block printed on the table with that number. The shooter (the player rolling the dice) continues rolling until he rolls the point number (a winner) or he rolls a 7 (loser). The other numbers mean nothing to your bet. Rolling the point number again pays even money. The same shooter continues to roll until she/he sets a point number and then rolls a loser 7. Players take turns rolling the dice. The next player to the shooter's left becomes the new shooter.

Here's the wrinkle, the odds bet. It's the best bet you'll find in the casino. There's no house edge and you'll win a multiple of the odds bet, from 1.2 to 2 times the bet. Let's say you bet $10 on the pass and the point is a 5. If the shooter rolls the 5 before a 7, you win the pass bet at 1 to 1 plus your odds bet at 3 to 2. If you had bet $20 for the odds your total win would be 10 plus 30 or $40. This bet is so good that casinos limit how much you can bet so if you want to bet big, load up on the odds. Most strip casinos use 3-4-5 times odds. On the same $10 pass line bet that means $30 on points of 4 & 10, $40 on points 5 & 9, and $50 on points of 6 & 8. Betting that way means you will always be paid $70 on winning bets. You can keep it simple and always bet double your pass line bet on the odds. For the same 10 + 20 or $30 total you'll win $34 on the 6 & 8, $40 on the 5 & 9, and $50 on the 4 & 10. You can play this way for a long time without losing all your money and possibly winning big. To make the odds bet you simply place it an inch or two behind you pass line bet. The house edge on the pass line bet is 1.41% which is much better than roulette at 5.26% and the 3.5% of Let it Ride. Even better, the combined house edge for the pass line with double odds as I've explained is 0.606%. That's about the same as the typical blackjack game on the strip. If you like to bet big max out the odds and you'll have the best chance of winning you can find.

If you have never played before you can just make the pass line bet with double odds while watching all the action and you'll learn about the other bets just being there. You'll have fun meeting the other players and watching the lovely ladies. Everyone has a great time when a woman with an overflowing bodice rolls the dice. Dealers are famous for placing chips and dice where women have to bend over and reach to pick them up. And, unlike strip clubs the drinks are free.

There are a couple of rules of play to remember. First, when you roll the dice you're only allowed to use one hand and you need to throw the dice all the way to the other end of the table. Don't worry, the dealer will help out if you forget. It's not actually a rule but, seven is a very bad word at the craps tables. Saying seven at the table is considered very bad luck. Don't risk it. You still may think you're missing out by not making the other bets you hear everyone yelling about. If there's interest we can discuss those bets in future articles.