And if you’re a craps enthusiast, you can try your luck on the same tables where Stanley Fujitake once held the dice for a world-record 3 hours, six minutes – and launched the Cal’s world-famous “Golden Arm” club. Stanley Fujitake passed away in 2000 at the age of 77, but he was survived by his wife Satsuko and their sons Dennis, Lester, and Kevin. And while the children may have wondered where Dad was during those late nights at the California’s craps tables, Satsusko told Hawaii News Now that she is glad Stanley was able to enjoy the game he loved so. Our premier episode tells the story of Stanley Fujitake's astonishing craps roll at Las Vegas's California casino in 1989. The Cal has always had a unique relationship with gamblers from Hawaii. Stanley was one of those islanders who frequented the downtown property – and its craps tables.
The Captain is the World Record Holder for Most Rolls!
By Frank Scoblete
Stanley Fujitake Historical records and family trees related to Stanley Fujitake. Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. Created in 1992 the club was born after one casino patron, the late Stanley Fujitake, held the dice for a staggering three hours and six minutes. The Golden Arm Club has 116 members, including one.
I have always thought that Stanley Fujitake's three hour and six minute roll in May of 1989 in Las Vegas was not only the longest casino craps hand in terms of total time elapsed but also the longest hand in terms of total numbers thrown before the dreaded seven-out. I always estimated that Fujitake rolled about 200 numbers in his mammoth run.
I was wrong.
According to Boyd Gaming at whose property this roll took place, Fujitake's epic hand was 118 numbers long before he sevened out. [Boyd Buzz, Summer 2004, page 3.] While Fujitake still holds the total time record, his great feat has been surpassed, in a spectacular way, by the greatest craps player of all time - The Captain, who rolled 147 numbers before he sevened out. The Captain's roll took place in July of 2005.
The Captain's roll lasted two hours and 18 minutes.
The disparity in time between the two rolls is easy to explain. Fujitake was rolling on a 14-foot table, packed with players, most of them making the Hardways bets and other Crazy Crapper bets that took a lot of time to pay off. That table had at least 14 players at it. With only 12 players at the Captain's 12-foot table and with most of them eschewing the bad bets, the Captain was able to get in many more rolls in much less time.
The fact that the Captain achieved such a remarkable roll at the tender age of 83 merely vindicates what Golden Touch™ and I have been saying for years. The Captain is the 'man' when it comes to casino craps play and history can now record him as having had the greatest single hand of all time.
Let’s face it — people love Craps. They love taking part in rolling the dice, as well as just hanging out at the table while observing the fast-paced play. Craps players love to soak in the adrenaline-pumped atmosphere that surrounds this wildly exciting gameplay.
All of this excitement and the rush surrounding the Craps gameplay makes Craps table an inevitable stop for every casino visitor. Here, we are going to remind you of some of the most amazing dice rolls in the history of this casino game.
But let’s go back to the roots to see how it all started.
The Origins of the Game
The game of Craps first appeared in Europe, and some people believe that its origins can be traced way back to the time of the Crusades. However, we don’t have to go that far because the modern version of craps moved from London streets to the streets of New Orleans. This all happened in the 19th century, and the game never lost on popularity since then.
Craps seem like a simple rolling of the dice where players can either play against each other, or they can roll the dice against the dealer. The first one is the street variant, and the latter is the casino version. The most common version of Craps is the one you can find in most casinos nowadays.
Reasons for Loving Craps
The fact that the Craps outcome relies entirely on luck, it seems anyone can win it. This is one of the main reasons why it is so attractive to gamblers. Another reason that players like to roll the dice is a low house edge on craps. For all these reasons, the Craps tables are the most crowded spots in casinos.
Before I dedicate the rest of this article to the Craps recorders, I would like to state a fact about this game.
Even though many people think that Craps is based on trivial throwing of the dice, there are numerous betting options and possible combinations for players to learn. These options can help players get some edge in this game, and win real money playing it. That’s why novices at gambling tend to avoid craps table despite all its favorable features I mentioned above.
Beginners Luck That Turned into a World Record
This seems to have not affected the decision of Patricia Demauro, to stand at the Craps table for the second time in her life, and take a roll or two. Patricia is the protagonist of our story. What started as a beginner’s luck, soon turned into one of the longest Craps rolls in history.
This lady managed to throw the dice 154 times in a row. When she finally stopped playing she collected her winnings and left the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa like nothing spectacular happened.
Although she never revealed the amount of money she won while making gambling history, it is believed that this could be over several hundreds of thousands, since she entered the game for $100 in chips. By playing Craps for 4 hours and 18 minutes straight, Mrs. Demauro beat the previous record for the longest Craps roll set in 1989. The gentleman who set this record is our next hero.
The Golden Arm of Craps
As the legend says, Mr. Stanley Fujitake of Honolulu was a regular at California Hotel and Casino. This casino focused on providing excellent gambling services to the Hawaiian by making them feel at home. The owner’s effort to attract numerous islanders was soon recognized since The Cal, as the customers like to call it, was packed with people who wanted to enjoy gambling on a free territory.
Our fascinating story started in 1989, at California Hotel and Casino, when Mr. Fujitake dropped by for a regular night of gambling. He placed his $5 bet on a pass line and then the magic started revolving at the Craps table. Stanley Fujitake became a memorable craps player that night by rolling the dice for 118 times in a row. This whole unforgettable gambling experience for all who witnessed it lasted for three hours and six minutes.
While he earned around $30K for himself, he also won the additional $750K for other players who bet on him. Many would think that the casino that lost so much money because of one player wouldn’t exactly make that him a hero, but the owner of the California Hotel and Casino was a witty businessman who turned the whole story into great marketing.
He founded “The Golden Arm” club with an apparent reference to Mr. Fujitake’s incredible achievement. Every player who managed to play Craps for over an hour would become a member of this club. There is still an annual tournament in Craps held in this casino in remembrance of Mr.Fujitake and his incredible winning streak.
Commonplaced Superstitions
If you enjoyed these spectacular success stories, and you would also like to try rolling the dice, here are some funny rituals that numerous superstitious Craps players do to make sure luck will be on their side.
There is a common belief that says you have to find a pretty lady to be by your side and blow over the dice before you throw them. You must have seen this scene in various movies and TV shows.
Longest Craps Run
Some people usually drop a coin under the Craps table they want to gamble at, but all of them will never say seven at the table. Since number seven means the end of the game for players who get it, no one involved in this game would mention it. Players usually refer to number seven simply by “it” or “devil.”
Naturally, none of these work in real life. People make things like this up to justify the losing streak or a bad day at the casino. The truth is that these superstitions do not bring them any luck whatsoever.
Golden Arm Craps
If you like the idea of challenging the longest winning streak of 154 rolls, bear in mind the average number of consecutive throws of the dice. It’s important to realize that you’ll need loads of luck and some practice at Craps table to break this record. So head to the nearest casino and start practicing right away.