I consider craps to be a game of skill. And that will really get some people upset.
What is craps? Well, first of all I should say that I referring to traditional dice craps -- and not card craps that is played in California. Because in traditional dice craps, two dice are given to a player to roll or "shoot" and the result of the player's roll or shot determines the wins and losses of the game.
And that is where craps becomes a game of skill. Because, if the shooter can influence the dice, or can make the dice show a particular number -- or not show a particular number -- the shooter and the other players can win their bets, or not lose their bets depending on how they bet.
Everyone who throws the dice has a particular goal. "Right way" shooters want to hit the numbers they are betting on. "Wrong way" or "darkside" shooters want the dice to show a 7 after a point has been established so they can win their bets.
So players who have the "skill" of getting the numbers they want to show on the dice have a tremendous advantage. This is why I say that craps is a game of skill.
Now, we all have to ask and all have to wonder -- does anyone have this skill? Can anyone pick up two dice and hit the numbers they want or miss the numbers they want? This is not only a question of great debate but it's also a question with a lot of money at stake.
Books and videos and tapes have been marketed and sold telling craps shooters that yes, they can with practice and certain techniques hit the numbers they want or avoid the numbers they don't want.
I have purchased some of these books, and I have paid to attend certain lectures and classes, and I believe that to a certain extent the "skill" is possible. However, and this is a very big however, I cannot say that I have ever witnessed in person anyone with an ability to influence or control dice that goes beyond random chance.
Theoretically what the dice controllers and influencers preach makes perfect sense. I think a robot could do it. I think a robot tossing two dice with a controlled throw at a certain speed and trajectory with the dice aimed at a certain spot on the table and with a measured toss to reach a certain point on the back wall, could duplicate the same desired numbers on the dice over and over again. It's really simple physics that for every action there is a reaction. And if you can exactly duplicate the throw of two dice you should -- barring earthquakes, gusts of wind, players' hands hitting the dice -- get the same result over and over again.
But humans do not have the ability to control two small cubes the same way over and over again.
Even professional athletes who hit golf balls, sink three-pointers on basketball courts, deliver fast ball strikes and curve balls, and hit targets with arrows cannot at will hit the same spot repeatedly or repeat the same shot -- the exact same shot or pitch -- repeatedly.
I wouldn't say that dice influencing or dice control is not possible. I do say that so far I have never seen anyone do it with a high enough repeat factor to say they could influence or control the dice.
So the bottom line is that craps is a game of skill, but I just don't know of any human with the skill to be a consistent winner at it.