Gaming Guru

Raising the Table Minimum

Dear Frank,

With your long experience in craps I thought you could explain this: I was playing at Harrah's in AC at about 1 AM on a $10 table. The table was full and we were all winning all night. The shooter had five numbers for the Fire Bet and while he was trying for the sixth number (he never made it) the boss said the table would go up to $15 with the next shooter.

Can you give a guess why this would happen? It seemed crazy to bump the table at 1 AM! My guess is that either the table was winning too much or they wanted to thin the crowd so they could go home! What's your guess, O mighty craps guru?

Thanks,
Fred

Dear Fred:

As the "mighty craps guru" I can tell you this...I really don't know. I can dismiss the idea of the crew going home early since the crew has its normal working hours and they aren't going anywhere any time soon if it is 1AM.

Were the other tables crowded? If so, bumping up the minimum on all of them just makes some more money for the house. If the other tables were not crowded and your table was winning, the Pit Boss might have figured with higher minimums the house would get its money back more quickly since everyone at your table would have to wager more. Even Place bets would be affected since no one could bet $12 sixes and eights or $10 fours, fives, nines or tens. The player would have to jack those up by $6 or $5.

I am giving you a free 30-day subscription to my private members-only website at www.goldentouchcraps.com. We have over 5,000 members on this private site and the conversations are interesting, enlightening and fun. Enjoy!

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete

Get the Edge! Join Frank Scoblete in Las Vegas, October 21, 2011 for Advantage-Play Friday.