Craps is quite different from blackjack, poker, or sports betting, where skill and strategy clearly separate good players from bad ones. Instead, craps is usually regarded as a pure game of chance, where the roll of the dice dictates everything.
Identifying the world’s “best” craps player depends largely on whether you believe in the controversial technique of controlled shooting (also known as dice control).
Top Five Best Craps Players in the World
Craps legends are not as deeply rooted in gambling lore as those from blackjack or poker. One reason is that craps does not have official records, famous card counters, or formal tournaments. Instead, its greatest stories are usually spread by word of mouth or popularized through books and articles.
This guide highlights the debate around dice control while exploring five of the most famous names associated with the game. These players made history either through record-breaking rolls or by developing techniques that inspired countless others.
#1 Patricia DeMauro
- Most Consecutive Rolls: 154
- Status: Amateur Player
Patricia DeMauro, often called everyone’s favorite “grandma gambler,” ended Stanley Fujitake’s two-decade-long record in 2009 at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. During her incredible run, she rolled the dice 154 times over 4 hours and 18 minutes without “sevening out.”
Her total winnings were estimated somewhere between $500 and $5,000,000 (exact figures were never confirmed), but her name entered casino history. Statistically, the odds of achieving such a streak are about 1 in 1.56 trillion, making her accomplishment one of the most extraordinary feats in gambling history.
Interestingly, DeMauro was not even a regular craps player—she preferred slot machines. On that day, she decided to try craps with a friend and ended up setting a record that still stands today.
#2 Stanley Fujitake
- Most Consecutive Rolls: 118
- Status: Amateur Player
Before DeMauro, the legendary record holder was Stanley Fujitake. In 1989, at the California Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Fujitake rolled the dice 118 times without losing to a seven.
He began cautiously, betting only $5 per pass line wager, but as his streak continued, he increased his bets to $1,000 per roll. By the end of his hot streak, he walked away with around $30,000, while other players at the table collectively won more than $750,000 thanks to his lucky rolls.
Fujitake’s performance earned him the nickname “Golden Arm,” and the casino even created the Golden Arm Club to honor players who achieved remarkable streaks. Fujitake himself was awarded the Golden Arm title multiple times.
#3 Frank Scoblete
- Most Consecutive Rolls: 89
- Status: Professional Player
Frank Scoblete is one of the most famous advocates of dice control and is widely regarded as a professional craps strategist. Originally a struggling stage actor in the 1980s, Scoblete turned to gambling after discovering a passion for craps while visiting Atlantic City with his future wife, Alene Paone.
He realized he could make money not only by playing but also by writing about his experiences. In 1991, he published his first book, Beat the Craps Out of the Casinos, which became a gambling bestseller. Over the years, he has written many influential titles, including:
- The Captain’s Craps Revolution (1993)
- Sharpshooter Craps (1997)
- Forever Craps: The Five-Step Advantage-Play Method (2000)
- Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution! (2005)
- Casino Craps: Shoot to Win (2010)
Scoblete has been reported to roll 147 times in a row without sevening out, though this claim is debated and DeMauro’s record remains the benchmark. He remains one of the most recognized figures in the craps world.
#4 Garton Mau
- Most Consecutive Rolls: 72
- Status: Professional Player
Garton Mau is another respected name in the craps community. Reports describe him as a four-time Golden Arm champion. On one notable occasion, Mau rolled 72 consecutive times without sevening out, entertaining both the media and fellow players for over an hour.
Although not as widely known as DeMauro or Fujitake, Mau’s achievements earned him a place among the elite Golden Arm players, and his reputation still carries weight in Las Vegas gambling circles.
#5 Dominic LoRiggio
- Most Consecutive Rolls: 56
- Status: Professional Player
Dominic LoRiggio, famously nicknamed “The Dice Dominator,” is one of the most outspoken proponents of dice control. He appeared in a History Channel documentary titled Breaking Vegas: Dice Dominator.
LoRiggio developed an eight-step throwing technique designed to minimize randomness and improve accuracy. He practiced for months before joining Jerry Patterson’s dice-control team, later splitting due to philosophical differences. His skills and training workshops made him both popular and controversial—some casinos reportedly banned him, while many aspiring players paid thousands of dollars to attend his seminars.
Table of Famous Craps Records
| Player | Location | Year | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia Demauro | Borgata, Atlantic City | 2009 | 154 rolls over 4+ hours |
| Stanley Fujitake | California Hotel, Las Vegas | 1989 | 3-hour roll, later inspired “Golden Arm” club |
| Dominic LoRiggio | Various Casinos | 1990s–2000s | Popularized dice control strategy |
Does Controlled Shooting Work?
Controlled shooting, or dice control, is the idea that a skilled player can influence the outcome of a roll by using a consistent grip, throw, and landing technique. The goal is to reduce random bouncing against the table’s walls, making results more predictable.
Advocates argue that, like athletes practicing their craft, gamblers can improve consistency with enough training. They often measure success with the Sevens-to-Rolls Ratio (SRR), which tracks how often a seven appears compared to other numbers.
Skeptics, however, note that craps tables are designed specifically to randomize dice rolls, and there is no conclusive scientific evidence proving that dice control works over the long term.
How Does Controlled Shooting Work?
Setting the dice the same way before each throw is the first step toward a controlled shot. One popular example is the V-set for place bets on 6 or 8. In a typical V-set:
- 3s face up in a V-shape (often used when aiming for 6s).
- 5 and 1 appear together on a side face (which totals 6).
- 2 and 6 appear together on a side face (which totals 8).
- 4 and 4 can align on a side face (which totals 8).
Consistency is key: the same stance, the same grip, the same landing zone. Proponents compare the routine to an athlete’s practice regimen. Critics counter that the back wall’s pyramids and the casino’s rules (e.g., dice must hit the back wall) are designed to defeat such control.
Bottom line: practice may improve your rhythm, but there is no solid proof that it overcomes the house edge.
Are There Any True Professional Craps Players?
The short answer: not really. Unlike poker or blackjack, craps does not offer a sustainable mathematical edge against the house under normal rules. Even highly disciplined shooters cannot reliably control outcomes; and any attempt to alter rolls too directly could be deemed cheating.
- Even a highly precise throw is still subject to randomness.
- Techniques that skirt the rules (e.g., sliding) are prohibited.
Who Is the Best Dice Thrower?
The title of “best” dice thrower is debated. Some consider Dominic LoRiggio (“The Dice Dominator”) the greatest, while others view him as more of a showman. Regardless, Patricia DeMauro still holds the gold-standard record for the longest craps roll ever—154 consecutive throws in 2009, a reminder that sheer luck can sometimes steal the spotlight.
What Is the Greatest Craps Roll of All Time?
The greatest recorded roll belongs to Patricia DeMauro at the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City. On May 23, 2009, she rolled 154 times over four hours and 18 minutes, including 25 winning passes, without rolling a seven.
DeMauro reportedly started with about $100 and left the table with roughly $1,080 in winnings. The value of her streak, however, was in the history she made and the legend she created.
Final Thoughts
Craps remains a game of pure chance, where players hold no true advantage over the house. Still, every so often, remarkable streaks happen that defy all odds. Whether achieved by luck, skill, or a mix of both, these stories capture the imagination of gamblers worldwide.
From Patricia DeMauro’s unbelievable 154-roll streak to the disciplined techniques of Frank Scoblete and Dominic LoRiggio, the legends of craps remind us of the game’s enduring allure. In craps, even one lucky throw can turn an ordinary evening into a legendary story.
