Acknowledgments
There are many people who have contributed in some way to this book, and have influenced my life. First, I wish to acknowledge my dear mother, because her life has been of such profound meaning, and of such complexity, that her story is a book in itself. It is an everlasting credit to her that she has not only retained her life and her sanity, but that she was so able to continually contribute to and foster our family. She is by far the most deserving person to whom I can offer my thanks.
I also wish to thank my literary agents, Greg Dinkin and Frank Scatoni. Greg is an accomplished author in his own right; Frank, a widely respected book editor. Through their agency, Venture Literary, they recognized the value of what I had to offer as an author of books on casino games and gaming. Without their efforts, this book, and the others in this series, would never have come to exist.
My thanks also to Bruce Bender, at Kensington Publishing Group, who has published this book and this series. He recognized that this book, and this series, offer valuable insight into the casino games as they really are, and that this book will enable almost all players to finally realize a happy and profitable casino experience. I thank Bruce, and the staff of Kensington, for their help in this process, and in particular to that wonderful lady, the lovely Ann LaFarge, my editor.
I also wish to thank my friend, fellow author, and gaming columnist John Grochowski, for his thoughts and help in providing a review of the manuscript. I have enjoyed reading Johns works for a long time, and I find his words and thoughts of considerable value.
These sentiments also extend to my other fellow columnists from Midwest Gaming & Travel magazine: Henry Tamburin and Frank Scoblete, both well known authors of many books on casino gaming and casino games. Also thanks to my other colleagues and staff at the magazine, particularly Cathy Jaeger and Beth Wesselhoeft. Cathy and I have known each other for a long time, and she was at one time also the editor of several other magazines that published my articles. Since 1984 I have published a continuous column on casino gaming in various publications, and for most of these years it was Cathy who was my editor and friend. And darling Beth, well, she always calls me and reminds me of my deadline for my magazine column, and without her I would most likely have forgotten the month, and not just the day.
I am also fortunate to bring you a list of my friends, and others, who have helped me and influenced my life in many ways.
I extend my gratitude and thanks to my long-time friend Tom Caldwell for the many things he has done to help me, and enrich my life. I have had many discussions with Tom about casino games, and my thoughts about the games have become more mature because of these discussions. I also send my thanks to Norreta, Sean, and Brent, for reasons they all know.
To all my other friends and associates in the gaming business, from owners, managers, senior executives, hosts, and supervisorsyou all know who you are, and I thank you.
My friends in Australia, Neil and his family, Lilli and little MRM (Mark), Ormond College, University of Melbourne, the Governor of Victoria and my former Master, Sir Davis McCaughey. Also his Proctorial Eminence R. A. Dwyer, Esq., and the Alumni Association of the University of Wollongong, NSW, Department of Philosophy, and Professor Chipman.
My grateful appreciation I also extend to Mr. Laurence E. Levit, C.P.A., of Los Angeles, who has been my steadfast friend, accountant, and adviser for two decades, and whose faith in me and my work has never faltered. A truer friend a man rarely finds. Also to Mr. Michael Harrison, attorney-at-law in Beverly Hills, California, whose expertise and help have made my life more secure.
To Andrew Hooker and the Cowboys from Vietnam, I also send my thanks. As well as to Edwin Slogar, a good friend.
I also wish to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Mrs. Ursula Steinberg for her valuable help and assistance.
Finally, to all those whose paths have crossed with mine, and who have for one reason or another stopped a while and visited. I may no longer remember your names, but I do remember what it meant to have those moments.
Thank you!
Postscript
In all my books I try to strike a balance between simplifying the game and making it understandable for the novice, while at the same time providing something to advance the knowledge of readers who may already know the game, and also offering something new even for the expert. This is very hard to do. I often wonder if some of my readers will be disappointed because there was too much simplification, while others may think there was too much detail, and too much emphasis on professional play. In the final tally, I try to make these casino games easy to understand and easy to play, and to offer methods and strategies that will make it possible for the novice, the intermediate, and the expert to make a profit.
Craps can be a difficult game. It is perhaps the only casino game where so many options and methods of play can all be used at the same time. Thats also why this is such a great game. It is too bad that so many players avoid it, or dont play it as it can be played. In this book, it was my hope to further the cause of this game, to show you that you can play it easily, without difficulty, and without fear. If you choose casino gambling as your form of entertainment, then it should also be a worthwhile source of fun, as well as profit. Just because casino gambling is entertaining, or at least it should be, doesnt mean it has to always make you a loser. You can win, even if you are only a casual player. You can also win if you are a more serious player. Casino players win money every day. The only reason why casinos make so much more is because so many players simply play so badly. You dont have to be one of them.
Thats what I hoped to accomplish in this bookto show you that way. Now, the rest is up to you. How well you do in your actual casino play will depend on how well you can apply what has been shown. That in itself isnt easy, but it can be done. Dont consider yourself a failure if you dont accomplish all your goals the very first time you try. Craps will take a while to master. Similarly, dont stay away from the game because you think its so complex. It isnt, and it can be played by everyone, easily, and with great enjoyment. It is the enjoyment of the game with which I now leave you, and wish you all the very best.