If you have read the first part of this article How to Evaluate a Craps Tournament (part 2) you are now wondering how you can avoid the same mistake I made. I’d start with asking the following questions about every tournament you consider entering and demanding to know the answers before you get on a plane or hop in the car to travel to the location.
What are the rules?
Insist on knowing all the rules, preferably in writing, before you journey to wherever the craps tournament will be held. Who owes money will you use to participate? What are the requirements during the playing time? Are certain minimum bets required? Any tournament organizer or promoter who is hesitant to reveal details may be hiding something.
I was recently invited to come to Las Vegas and participate in what was described as a free craps tournament. This particular casino sweetened the deal by informing me I would get free entry into the tournament, which awarded a $3000 grand prize, and three free nights at the hotel. The deal sounded really great so I called to make my reservations. The receptionist said all the other rules will be explained at the welcome cocktail party held for all the people invited to the craps tournament. My first mistake was to assume that this competition would be just like all the other ones I have been to in the past: each player uses house chips and the prize is awarded based on which player wins the most over the course of the tournament.