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Bad Checks, Loaded Dice and Coin Flips
by Mark Pilarski Dear Mark, A coin itself is not a gambling device per se because it was created and designed for a specific purpose. However, the coin becomes an illegal apparatus, subject to forfeiture by the state, when it is flipped in the air and wagers are made on its eventual outcome. Dear Mark, Called the "Spin" or "Pivot" test, a boxman on a crap game will hold the dice loosely between his thumb and forefinger at diagonally opposite corners and gently spin the dice. A fair cube will spin smoothly and its revolution will stop in a natural way. A loaded die, because of the extra weight, will pivot back in a distinguished manner at the end of its rotation. At home, you can test for loaded dice by filling a tall glass with water and dropping the cubes in gently. Repeat this action several times with a different number on top. If the same number appears repeatedly, they're loaded. Why? Because the weighted dice will turn toward the bottom as they fall each time.Dear Mark, Sorry, Billy. Unless you own a casino, accepting a check to cover a gambling debt is not collectable in a court of law, even if you made the bet in Nevada where sports betting is legal. Dear Mark, First, Tom, a little known fact. All winnings in a casino are subject to taxation even if the casino does not issue you a W2G. The way you cut your tax liability is by deducting your losses against your winnings. But, Tom, you better be able to substantiate your losses with irreproachable documentation. How? By using a descriptive gambling diary. Keep all wagering tickets, canceled checks, bank withdrawal statements made at the casino and credit receipts as your proof. Hot tip: Suppose, Tom, you are like the 99.9% who don't keep factual gambling records. Don't despair. Because you are a slot player and probably belong to a slot club, the casino should be able to give you a print-out of all your play for the year. Dear Mark, Yes, Freddy, always play in a casino that offers a triple payoff (rather than double) on the 12. This will cut the casino edge from 5.6 percent to 2.8 percent.
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