What Kind Of Player Are You (from a dealer perspective)?

Professional:

With inquiry to three Las Vegas craps professionals, and a combined tenure in the Las Vegas and Nevada craps community of over 100 years, there is no knowledge of any living “professional” gambler who makes or ever made a living by playing craps. This initial investigation encompasses numerous Las Vegas, Laughlin and Reno casinos where these two professionals worked as dealers, boxmen, and in floor management positions. The closest thing to a “professional” is a legend named “System Smitty”, a character who ran ads in the Los Angeles newspapers and convinced players to come to Las Vegas and have him play their bank on the craps tables for a split on the winnings. Whether this legend is alive and well or deceased is unknown as of this writing. There was agreement on the part of these two tenured craps professionals that only certain poker players actually make a living at the gaming tables. If you know of a “professional” who makes a living playing the game of Craps, please write to the content developer of this website.

System:

There are hundreds and probably thousands of so called “System” players. It is difficult to generalize this subject because of the pitfalls that these players fall into. Most “System” players do not exercise a consistent regiment in applying their convictions. Many sway between applying their method between the Pass Line and the Don’t Pass Line. The temptation of the proposition wagers also sways them from a consistent pattern in their gaming. By definition, one would think that a true “System” player would focus on a consistent pattern of results on the dice. It is almost impossible in a casino to maintain a consistent positioning of wagers at the craps table because of physical and unforeseen interruptions. First, there are the physical interruptions of having to relieve oneself. And, there are the interruptions and distractions of the cocktail waitresses. Most importantly there is just the shear complexity of maintaining all wagers integral to the “system” and if the player can not keep track of the positioning of the wagers (and taking or laying the appropriate odds on flat bets), the dealer will often miss servicing the player’s system requirement. So, pretty much by definition, “systems” usually are not positioned by a consistent pattern of wagers because there are almost always interruptions in the pattern of results on the dice. Most visible systems fall into the general classifications listed below:

Martingdale (Doubling up to catch up)

Iron Cross (Place 5, 6 and 8 and play The Field)
Place and Press all Numbers (Includes “Buy Bets” on 4 and 10).
Press Come Bets (Sweeten some Point Numbers or All Numbers after a win).
Power Press 6 and/or 8
Any combination of wagering that involves Full Press on proposition bets.
(It is interesting to note that very little is written about systems that reduce “House Take” by using the full odds options that are provided by selected casinos… 5X, 10x, 20x and 100x odds.)

Tourist/Recreational:

These are the folks that play for fun. They usually have very little knowledge about the game or have a very simple method of play that they might believe to be a “system”. What they really have is just a method of play, as most folks who fall into this category do not have a working knowledge of the percentages of the game nor related “House Take’ information. Often, their wagers fall into The Field and into the Big 6 and 8 corner box. Often they will place a wager on the Pass Line after a point has already been established. In addition, because they are often caught up in “the spirit of the game” they will not hesitate to throw wagers into the proposition box hoping for a hardway hit or a score on the 7 or 11 on the come out roll. Many of these players also believe in covering the Any Craps or Craps/11 (C and E) wagers on the come out roll believing that they are buying “insurance”.

Grinder:

A “Grinder” is a player who consistently makes the same bet over and over without sweetening the bet, even when winning. Some “Grinders” might even position a complex pattern of betting… using odds or combining line bets with proposition bets. But, because they never press up their bets they are usually at the mercy of the table odds which over time grind down the “Grinder” into an overall loss. Dealers do not like grinders because they are just taking up space at the table and are almost always losers unless there is an incredible streak on the dice. And even then, the “Grinder” will not win much money. Many “Grinders” place a consistent pattern of come bets and never take odds.

Logger:

A “Logger” is a rare breed, uncommonly seen. This is the player who takes a most academic approach and who logs the results of the dice over a period of time, often making notes with pen and paper before making a wager of any kind.

Degenerate:

These are players who have been trying to beat the craps table, usually for many years, and who have tried dozens and dozens of methods and systems all for nil. Many dealers at the dice tables of the world are degenerate, some having to work two jobs and who still find time to play craps in what little spare time they might have. There are actually dealers of this type and you can find them in the casino break rooms sleeping on their breaks. Some of these types actually have friends wake them up on their cellular phones or carry mini-alarm clocks with them to use during their breaks.

Stroker:

A “Stroker” is a player who intentionally or unintentionally jerks the dealers around. Often this is done by throwing out late bets or by pulling “tricks” like throwing a 100 bill on the field at the last second and then asking for change when a non-field number rolls. Other “Stroker” techniques including mumbling bets so that the dealer can not hear and “barber polling” their bets so as to make the dealers work to break down the bet for pay-off. Some “Strokers” actually work in teams at each end of the table, one betting the pass line and the other betting the don’t pass line to jack up comps and to get free drinks.

Flea:

This is a term used by casino workers to describe degenerate gamblers who usually don’t have the wherewithal to gamble in the first place. They are usually unkempt complainers who constantly lose and who are always looking for a free hand out. They are the ones who are always hanging around the tables and the slot machines looking for a “free drink”. AND they NEVER tip the dealers OR the cocktail waitresses.

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