Chuck-a-luck

Learning how to play chuck-a-luck at your local casino is easy, finding the game is tough, because there are not many casinos that still offer the game. Chuck-a-luck is a relatively simple dice game played with an hourglass shaped cage. Unlike craps, where two dice are used, chuck-a-luck is played with three large dice.

The metal cage used is usually about 18-inches high. The cage (sometimes called a birdcage) is turned so the dice fall from one side to the other. The base of each side is large enough for each of the three, six-sided dice to lay flat and be totaled-up. Bets are made before the spin of the cage, and winning bets paid after the dice "total."

You will have a choice of five different types of bets at the chuck-a-luck table. Place your chips (or cash if it is accepted) on whichever wagers you would like to for the next total.

You may bet on a single number (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and are paid even-money for each die that comes up on the number you chose. If you bet on number "3" and one die has a 3, you are paid 1 to 1. If two dice come up with a "3", you are paid 2 to 1. If all three dice come up with a "3" you are paid 3 to 1.The house edge on a number bet is 7.87 percent.

A wager on the "field" is a bet that the total of all three dice will be between 3 and 7 or 13 and 18. This bet pays even money, or 1 to 1. If the total of the dice is between 8 and 12, you lose. The house edge on a field bet is 15.74 percent.

A wager on "high" is a bet that the total of the three dice will be over 10. This bet pays even money, or 1 to 1. If the total of the dice is less than 11, you lose. You also lose if all three dice are the same - a three of a kind. The house edge on a high bet is 2.86 percent.

A wager on "low" is a bet that the total of the three dice will be under 11. This bet pays even money, or 1 to 1. If the total of the dice is over 10, you lose. You also lose if all three dice are the same - a three of a kind. The house edge on a high bet is 2.86 percent.

A wager on "any triple" is a bet that all three dice will be the same. This bet pays 30 to 1. The house edge on an "any triple" bet is 13.9 percent.