In a brick-and-mortar casino, the shooter in craps becomes the focal point of the table. When it’s your turn, fellow players are hoping for good fortune to be on your side.
This is why many new players feel pressure to throw the dice “correctly.” There’s a lot of personal opinion around this, and some debate over how much impact the throw technique truly has.
Craps Throwing Techniques Are Part of the Game
Experienced craps players often incorporate dice setting and dice control into their throws. These techniques can be essential elements of the dice roll.
Dice control refers to the motion used when rolling the dice, while setting is about arranging the dice in hand before the throw—specifically, which numbers face up. One common setting involves arranging the dice so that the sides touching each other total seven. After setting, the control involves the arm motion, throw speed, and the tension applied before releasing the dice.
Many craps enthusiasts practice their throws to build muscle memory, aiming to make their technique feel natural. However, whether this practice provides any real advantage remains a subject of debate.
The Impact of Dice Throwing Techniques May Be Minimal
Casinos are fully aware that some players attempt to use dice control and setting to reduce the house edge in craps. To counteract these techniques, casinos implement several measures.
A primary method is requiring players to throw the dice so they hit the back wall of the table, which significantly reduces any influence that dice control and setting may have.
Additionally, the weight of the dice itself helps minimize the chances of manipulation. Overall, there’s limited documented evidence that dice control or setting can significantly improve a player’s odds.