Quality Assurance Guidelines For Balancing Dice Management
The Following Instructions were developed by LittleJoeCraps.com and are best used with the following instrument to test the balance of dice:
While testing procedures to follow for dice in most State Gaming Commission Regulations is addressed, there are not any specific instructions or required training on how to actually conduct and use the tools that are stated in the Regulations. Some of the tools that are to be used could be relegated to an individual's common sense on how it should be used; however, after many years of observing casino employees conducting the inspection and testing of dice, it is clear that the majority do not know how to adequately conduct these tests, or do not take this requirement seriously. This is especially true, and most importantly, with respect to testing the dice for balance.
While the Balancing Caliper could be considered a crude tool and method to address if a dice cube is balanced, if used properly and the individual conducting the test knows how and what they are looking for, it can be effective.
The degree of imbalance in a die is variable,but if it can be determined that there is any imbalance in a die, it and the entire sleeve of matching serial numbers must be rejected for acceptance and use to comply with the balance requirements in the Regulatory Language.
1. The Balancing Caliper shall be placed on a solid flat level surface to conduct the tests. (ie. the table bank roll cover).
2. There are two methods that can be used to place the die into the cups of the Balancing Caliper. The first can be used mostly for speed and ease in performing the general balance testing - the opposing corners of the die shall be placed in the cups of the Balancing Caliper while adjusting the cups to allow the opposing corners to rest loosely near the bottom of each cup and with the axis between the two opposing corners as level as possible. Proceed with the test as stated in #s 3, 4 and 5 as follows, except when an imbalance is suspected.
If an imbalance is indicated or suspected while performing the test by the first method, the test shall proceed using the second method that differs only by more careful placement of the opposing corners as near to the center of the cup and careful adjustment of the cups to allow the die to rotate freely without slowing and affecting the spin rate, yet maintaining the axis between the opposing corners to remain as level as possible when conducting tests as stated in #s 3, 4 and 5 as follows. This second method is more precise because the opposing corners are rotating and sitting on a more vertical surface of the balancing calipers cups.
3. Spin the die and observe that it is spinning freely with the spin rate not being affected by the cups being too tight to effect a slower spin rate. This rate does not have to be fast, and an imbalance will show itself on how the spinning die comes to a stop.
4. A balanced die will come to a slow stop and it will not stop and reverse direction and then spin in the opposite direction. An imbalanced die will stop spinning and reverse the spin direction and rotate in the opposite direction, and could stop again and rotate in the opposite direction again and again. This is the heavy imbalance side of the axis seeking its bottom in relation to the Balancing Caliper. The tester must observe which numbered face comes the closest to an upright position in relation to the Balancing Caliper, and then,
5. Proceed to spin the die again in the opposite direction as the first test spin while observing the same as stated in #s 3 and 4.
Note if the die reverses spin rotation again and which the same numbered face is most upright again. Many times it will be the same face that is most upright, or the same face will be the second most upright. In which case,
6. The die must be removed from the Balancing Caliper and retested with different opposing corners. The tester must be looking for similar results as the previous tests and must follow the same procedures as above.
7. It has been determined in #s 4,5 and 6 above that the die is imbalanced and the sleeve must be rejected. There is no need to test the remaining dice in the sleeve of matching serial numbers. The rejected die must be identified and noted which numbered face(s) was coming the most upright when the die came to rest. Then follow the procedures for rejecting dice from play.
