Craps Hero

From time to time, a new game is accepted into casinos. Some make it and some don’t. Die Rich is one of those games which is currently trying to establish a fan base and become a fixture at casinos across the country.

So what exactly is Die Rich? Well, the easiest way to describe it would be “craps with only one die.”

Die Rich is the invention of Ken Coleman, a dealer and inventor from Reno, Nevada. Not only has the game appeared at the Global Gaming Expo, an annual event teeming with prospective new casino games, but Ken also received permission from state regulators to give the game a “field test” at the Eldorado Hotel and Casino.

The reaction was a positive one. So positive, in fact, that the Luxor Casino in Las Vegas began offering the game for play in the latter half of 2006.

The game is played at a small blackjack-style table, and the single die is shaken up and rolled from a cup. Players take turns handling the die, and this leads to the type of camaraderie usually reserved for Craps games. When the thrower wins, it usually leads to everyone else at the table winning (or losing). And because of its compact design, the game moves faster than Craps, which means players will get more chances to toss the die.

The player tossing the die begins by making a “pass-line” bet and a come-out roll. If they roll a 6, they immediately win and get paid 1 to 1 odds. If a 1 is rolled, the player immediately loses. If a 2 through 5 comes up, then that number now becomes the “point.” After the point has been established, the player will then have 3 more rolls in which to try and roll the point again.

If, during these additional rolls, the player rolls a 1, then he or she loses. But if they do manage to roll the point, then they win based on the number of rolls and the pay table (see below). If the player fails to roll the point after 3 tries, then the player loses and the cup passes to the next roller.

In addition to the pass-line bet, bettors can also wager on the outcome of any roll (from 1 to 6). This bet, if won, will pay out at 4 to 1 odds.

Win on Come-Out Roll = 1 to 1 odds

Roll Point on 2nd Roll = 2 to 1 odds

Roll Point on 3rd Roll = 1 to 1 odds

Roll Point on 4th Roll = 2 to 1 odds

Proposition Bet = 4 to 1 odds

Whether Die Rich will become a casino fixture or a flash-in-the-pan remains to be seen. What is for certain is that it’s a fast-paced game where the players have a heavy level of participation. There’s not a lot of standing around the table (which is often a complaint about Craps). Couple this with easy to understand odds and payout, and we may just be looking at the next big casino game of the new millennium.