Loaded Craps Dice – Non-Weighted
Loaded dice are any dice that have been tampered with in order to make it more likely that a specific face will be turned up when the die stops rolling. Dice can either have a weight inserted into them, or have a modification made to the surface. Typically, non-weighted loaded craps dice will be shaved or melted. Look for rounded edges or clipped corners that might influence the ways in which the die rolls and lands.
Different Types of Non-Weighted Loaded Craps Dice with Altered Faces
Usually, non-weighted loaded Crap dice will be shaped to have either convex or concave shapes on some of the sides. A beveled die will role off of the convex side and land on the flat side. Some dice use the concept of suction in order to fall on a certain side. These dice have a concave side that will suck onto smooth surface, keeping the opposite side facing up. They’ll also stick more effectively to a rough surface, allowing a skilled shooter to manipulate his dice roll.
Non-weighted loaded Craps dice are also sometimes shaved to create a shape that is rectangular rather than square. In this way, four sides are shorter than the other two, and these sides have a smaller amount of surface area. This makes it more likely that the two sides with more surface area will land facing up. Imagine tossing a domino; it would rarely, if ever, land on one of it’s four smaller faces. Shaved dice are sometimes referred to as “bricks” or “bars.”
Different names are applied to these dice, depending on how they’ve been shaved. A die with a shaved 1 or 6 side is called a “Six-Ace Flat.” A pair of dice with the 3 or the 4 and the 1 or the 6 shaved is called a “Flat Passer.” This name may also apply to a single die that has had the 3 or the shaved.
Types of Non-Weighted Loaded Craps Dice With Altered Edges
Occasionally, Craps cheaters will use non-weighted dice that have had their edges manipulated. These modifications are often vary difficult to spot, since legitimate dice will occasionally have slightly rounded edges. In addition, the edges of dice will naturally wear over time, at which point they’re usually replaced by the casino. A manipulated die will often wear even faster. Non-weighted dice with altered edges are often referred to as “Trip dice.”
One type of loaded dice with an altered edge is the Cut-Edge die. This die has had one of its edges shaved off at a 45 degree angle, while the remaining edges have bee cut at a 60 degree angle. The Raised Edge die is another type of altered-edge die. This die has a tiny lip on one side, which effectively increases the surface area of that side and grips the table when the die is rolled.
Razor-Edge dice are somewhat more complicated. One of the edges is cut with a razorblade, while the other edges are slightly rounded. The die rolls on the rounded edges and grips the table with the edge that has been cut with a razor. Some cheaters use Saw-Tooth dice. These dice have one of their edges scored with small incisions that are intended to grip the table. These types of altered-edge dice are rather unreliable.
Other Types of Non-Weighted Loaded Craps Dice
Some dice have raised pips, or spots. On a legitimate pair of dice, the black spots will recede into the cube. The raised spot is intended to make the die roll onto a different side. These dice are incredibly easy to spot and aren’t used very often by cheaters. Capped dice are essentially shaved dice that have had their shaved portion replaced by a different material with unique elastic properties. The bouncier side makes the die more likely to land on a different side. These dice are also rather easy to spot.
Painted dice have one or more of their sides coated with a clear, tacky substance that gets stickier when moisture is applied to it. A cheater activates the substance by gently blowing on the die before tossing it. The die is supposed to land on the sticky side. Slick dice use the opposite concept. One side is polished while the other is rough. The polished sides are more likely to not land facedown. Some loaded dice have a pin that is jammed into the middle black dot on the 5 side. The pin catches on the cloth of the table, causing the opposite side to land facing up. Very few cheaters use this type of loaded die today.
How to Spot Loaded Non-Weighted Craps Dice in a Casino
First, visually inspect the dice. Do you see any corners or edges that look dissimilar from the rest? Does each side of the die look uniform in color, or is one side noticeably lighter or darker than the rest? Are there any strange lines or markings in the dice that seem intentionally placed?
Next, feel the dice carefully. Are any of the corners or edges rougher than the others? Does it feel like any of the faces are especially smooth, rough, or sticky? Are there any cuts in the edges of the dice? Do all sides of the die have a solid, firm feel? If you can make a mark in one of the surfaces of the die with your fingernail, you might be dealing with capped die.
If you find any dice that you feel have been altered or tampered with while playing Craps, you might suspect that the dice are loaded. Report these dice to casino staff immediately. Cheating comes with serious consequences, and anyone who cheat at Craps with loaded non-weighted dice will be subject to stiff penalties.
