Razzle (game)
Encyclopedia
Razzle is a game
sometimes presented on carnival
midways and historically, in the casinos of Havana, Cuba. The game is also known as Razzle-Dazzle. This generic name is seldom known to players, as it is generally presented as Football, Ten Points Win, Baseball, Mo-Co, Indian Poker, Cajun Bingo or other name selected to generate interest for the locals. According to gaming expert Darwin Ortiz
, the Razzle is seldom, if ever, run honestly. The nature of the game makes it a particular money-maker for dishonest carnies
(flatties).
Razzle consists of a playing board with numbered holes, averaging 120, upon which eight marbles
are spilled from a cup. The numbers are added to a total and that total is displayed on a chart, that looks something like a calendar, with the value for that number displayed beneath it. In most Razzle set-ups, the player must bet one unit (dollar, pound, Euro) per roll, and must keep rolling until he achieves 10 points. The player does not "lose" until he walks away, but in reality the player loses the minute he steps up to the game, as the game is almost always played dishonestly.
The points per number chart is the secret. The numbers most likely to come up are worthless or only indicate that you have to double or increase the bet. Most dishonest razzle games also rely on a fast count by the game operator to trick the player into believing he has a better number total than he actually rolled. This is used to keep the player hooked into the game, increasing his point total periodically, causing him to invest more and more into the game. Increasingly the player believes that walking away would be a disaster; he only needs one or two more points. Unfortunately for the player, he never actually gets that last point. According to Darwin Ortiz, most Razzle operators are not satisfied until they get their mark's last dollar.
Even if the game were run honestly, the mathematical nature of the razzle board makes it entirely unlikely that a player would ever win before running out of money, or that the prizes won would ever equal the amount of money spent chasing them.
Another feature of the game is that more than one prize can be won in a game. All the player must do is score a certain number, usually 29, to win additional prizes. The flattie running the game, however, usually states that for every additional prize the player is aiming for, he must make another bet. In most cases the extra prize is just an excuse for the operator to get the sucker's money more quickly.
The Razzle is such a devastatingly effective scam that some crooked-booth operators, upon encountering a particularly rich and dumb mark
, will abandon his store's theme and bring out the razzle.
Prizes can also include video game consoles, MP3 players, televisions and large amounts of money.
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
sometimes presented on carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
midways and historically, in the casinos of Havana, Cuba. The game is also known as Razzle-Dazzle. This generic name is seldom known to players, as it is generally presented as Football, Ten Points Win, Baseball, Mo-Co, Indian Poker, Cajun Bingo or other name selected to generate interest for the locals. According to gaming expert Darwin Ortiz
Darwin Ortiz
Darwin Ortiz is a magician, who is an authority on gambling and card manipulation.Ortiz was born and raised in New York City where he had a keen interest in card tricks since childhood. In 1974, he dropped out of NYU Law School and pursued card magic full-time...
, the Razzle is seldom, if ever, run honestly. The nature of the game makes it a particular money-maker for dishonest carnies
Carny
Carny or carnie is a slang term used in North America and, along with showie, in Australia for a carnival employee, as well as the language they employ...
(flatties).
Razzle consists of a playing board with numbered holes, averaging 120, upon which eight marbles
Marbles
A marble is a small spherical toy usually made from glass, clay, steel, or agate. These balls vary in size. Most commonly, they are about ½ inch in diameter, but they may range from less than ¼ inch to over 3 inches , while some art glass marbles fordisplay purposes are over 12 inches ...
are spilled from a cup. The numbers are added to a total and that total is displayed on a chart, that looks something like a calendar, with the value for that number displayed beneath it. In most Razzle set-ups, the player must bet one unit (dollar, pound, Euro) per roll, and must keep rolling until he achieves 10 points. The player does not "lose" until he walks away, but in reality the player loses the minute he steps up to the game, as the game is almost always played dishonestly.
The points per number chart is the secret. The numbers most likely to come up are worthless or only indicate that you have to double or increase the bet. Most dishonest razzle games also rely on a fast count by the game operator to trick the player into believing he has a better number total than he actually rolled. This is used to keep the player hooked into the game, increasing his point total periodically, causing him to invest more and more into the game. Increasingly the player believes that walking away would be a disaster; he only needs one or two more points. Unfortunately for the player, he never actually gets that last point. According to Darwin Ortiz, most Razzle operators are not satisfied until they get their mark's last dollar.
Even if the game were run honestly, the mathematical nature of the razzle board makes it entirely unlikely that a player would ever win before running out of money, or that the prizes won would ever equal the amount of money spent chasing them.
Another feature of the game is that more than one prize can be won in a game. All the player must do is score a certain number, usually 29, to win additional prizes. The flattie running the game, however, usually states that for every additional prize the player is aiming for, he must make another bet. In most cases the extra prize is just an excuse for the operator to get the sucker's money more quickly.
The Razzle is such a devastatingly effective scam that some crooked-booth operators, upon encountering a particularly rich and dumb mark
Confidence trick
A confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. A confidence artist is an individual working alone or in concert with others who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as dishonesty and honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility,...
, will abandon his store's theme and bring out the razzle.
Prizes can also include video game consoles, MP3 players, televisions and large amounts of money.