Tests

Loaded dice are made heavier on one side by adding extra weight to the dice. Transparent dice do not eliminate the opportunity for the use of loaded dice because the weight can be put into the dots themselves. If loaded dice is suspected it is advised to inspect the dots to ensure that the indentations are of the same depth. Also, if the dice are dropped into a glass of water and repeatedly favor landing on one number over the other, the dice are most likely loaded. A simpler test that is commonly used is done by placing the die between your thumb and finger and lightly holding the die. If the die tends to spin to one side then the dice is loaded. This is called the pivot test. Floats or floaters are so named because they do not have weight added, but rather weight is taken away. When placed into water, the hollow side of the die will float and face upwards.

Physical Changes in Dice

Tapping dice or tappers operate by changing weight distribution inside the die itself. Often, the inside of the dice is outfitted with a mercury chamber or wire with a weight the ratchets up and down the wire. The cheating layer can tap the dice and make the weight ratchet to one side or cause the mercury to shift to one side in order to gain an advantage. There are also ways of changing the exterior of the dice that can affect the way in which the dice roll. Bevel dice have one or more convex sides that make it more likely that the dice will roll off a convex side and onto a flat side. Suction dice use the suction created by a concave side to make the crooked die favor the side opposite the concave side. The edges of the dice can be cut and refined in order produce unfair results. Some cheats will use what are called bricks or flats. Bricks or flats are dice that have one shaved side. This gives the four adjoining sides less surface area and makes the dice favor landing either on the shaved side or the side opposite the shaving.