The history of trick dice involves lead, magnets, and even melting them
Cubist, crude, and even polyhedral dice appeared over 6,000 years ago
Modern dice are mass-produced marvels of precision and accuracy. Each side of a modern D6 die is 1.6cm, weighing 10 to 15 grams depending on their overall needs (think travel dice versus large print), rounded corners, and near flawless accuracy in weight and distribution across the plastic, resin, and paint applied to each.
But before machining, dice were usually made of wood, bone, horse hooves, or rocks. These early dice can be traced back to 6000 B.C. and varied in size and accuracy. Because the insides of bones and rocks are variable, the shape of early dice was not critical to the games played. For example, bone dice excavated from sites like Skara Brae in Scotland, dated to approximately 3100-2400 BCE, highlight their use in early gaming practices.
Indeed, some of the oldest known dice were frequently used to tell fortunes and try to predict the future. The notion of fairness was not a factor in these designs. Ancient Egyptians played Senet, a game visually akin to Chess and believed to have religious connections. And Chinese players during the Tang Dynasty gambled with dice. But it wasn’t until the Romans that uniformity began to play a role. Fair dice, which are perfectly symmetrical and unbiased, contrast sharply with these ancient dice, which were often manipulated to favor specific outcomes.
The history of dice in this period is still debated. Roman dice were highly variable, resembling the modern six-sided dice we’re familiar with today, as well as four-sided dice and variations akin to polyhedral dice and other asymmetrical shapes. Ancient dice were literally crooked die! We’re unsure if equity or fate were considered integral parts of the dice.
Most of the oldest gaming implements, including dice in medieval and Roman times, were often lopsided physically and in practice. It wasn’t until the Middle Ages and then the Renaissance that thoughts of fairness and new theories of math, probability, and chance shifted the dice design. Researchers believe users adopted “new ideas about fairness, and chance or probability…“
- Numbers and pips oriented toward a prime configuration, with opposite sides adding up to 7. In Roman times, opposite side numbers usually added up to 11.
- Dice became more uniform, akin to a perfect cube, and had a natural internal weight designed to be consistent.
For most of recorded history, dice have been a critical part of every civilization. The games and uses arose independently but have similarities. And, in most cultures, dice were illegal. The associations with gambling and sin — and their inherently addictive properties — led to crooked dice that tilted games and supernatural forces to predetermined results.
Evolution of Dice Games
The evolution of dice games has been a long and winding road, spanning thousands of years and crossing multiple continents. From ancient civilizations to modern-day casinos, dice games have undergone significant transformations shaped by cultural, social, and technological advancements.
One of the earliest recorded dice games is the ancient Indian game of Ludo, which dates back to the 6th century BCE. This game was played with a set of polyhedral dice and was a favorite among the Indian aristocracy. As Indian traders and travelers spread throughout the ancient world, they introduced Ludo to other cultures, where it evolved into various forms.
In ancient Greece and Rome, dice games were a staple of social gatherings and were often played for high stakes. The Romans, in particular, were known for their love of dice games, and their version of Ludo, known as Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum, was a popular pastime among the elite.
The Middle Ages saw the rise of dice games in Europe, where they were often played in taverns and inns. The game of Craps, which originated in ancient Rome, became a popular game among the nobility and was often played for high stakes.
The modern era has seen the rise of new dice games, such as Dungeons & Dragons, which was first introduced in the 1970s. This game, which uses a polyhedral dice set, has become a global phenomenon and spawned a vast array of spin-offs and variations.
Today, dice games are played in casinos, online, and in homes worldwide. From classic games like Craps and Ludo to modern games like Dungeons & Dragons, the evolution of dice games has been a fascinating journey shaped by human ingenuity and creativity.
Loaded dice may be older than most games
Loaded dice get their name because the insides of the dice are frequently loaded with a bit of resin, metal, magnets, or other materials. Movies and television have shown millions how such dice can alter games.
In 1983's Octopussy, James Bond (Roger Moore) meets his villain for the first time after an unsuspecting player fails to notice Kamal Kahn's (Louis Jordan) crooked dice. Bond sits down and also fails to notice until the final turn when 007 uses the loaded dice equipped with magnets to win at the last moment. "It's all in the wrists," he quips.
One of the most famous examples of trick dice is the “gaffed” dice used by ancient Greek and Roman gamblers. These dice were designed to produce a specific outcome, such as a six or a one, and were often used to cheat unsuspecting players.
Loaded dice frequently come in one of four varieties:
- Face-loaded dice, which puts a square insert to favor the number on the opposite side.
- Edge-loaded dice, which puts a wedge in to favor numbers adjacent to the weight.
- Corner loaded, which puts a lead weight in a triangular shape inside, which results in numbers diagonally opposite favored.
- Overloaded dice, which puts a large weight on one side just under the surface, making the bottom almost guaranteed to sit face-down.
The materials inside the dice usually rely on lead because of its density and weight for such small spaces. But magnets, gallium (a heavy metal), and iron are also common.
Easy at-home methods for creating trick dice
It's unlikely most trick dice users are manufacturing their own loaded dice at home. However, a loaded die can be made by drilling modern dice and filling them with liquid resin. After drilling into one of the pips, it's easy to conceal the black mark with some filling and paint.
The pips are also easy to modify for unsuspecting players. You can sand or fill one side to re-paint pips. For instance, a die with two "4" sides is easy to miss unless you're looking for it and a quick way to trick people in a fast game. So long as the more distinctive 1, 5, and 6 appear, most people won't notice.
Even easier: just melt the dice. You can create loaded dice without loading them with anything by just placing standard gaming dice in an oven for a few minutes. The resin and plastic of modern die will melt just a little if timed right, causing one side to become flatter. Done over multiple dice, the slightly larger surfaces of the flat sides make them more likely to land on that side, with the opposite sides facing up.
Despite their negative connotations, trick dice have also played a significant role in the development of modern gaming. Many games, such as Craps and Ludo, were initially designed to be played with trick dice, and the use of these dice has become an integral part of the game.
Detection and anti-cheating methods
Cheating has been a problem in dice games since ancient times, and detecting and preventing it has been a constant challenge. In ancient Greece and Rome, cheating was a serious offense punishable by law. Casinos and gaming establishments have implemented various measures to detect and prevent cheating.
One of the most common methods of cheating is the use of loaded dice, which are designed to favor certain outcomes. Casinos use various methods to detect loaded dice, including visual inspection, weight testing, and statistical analysis. Casinos also use other various measures, including the use of transparent dice cups and the rotation of dice after each roll.
In addition to these measures, casinos also use advanced technology, such as computerized dice tracking systems, to detect and prevent cheating. These systems use algorithms to analyze the outcomes of dice rolls and detect any patterns or anomalies that may indicate cheating.
Players can also take steps to prevent cheating, such as inspecting the dice before play and ensuring that the dice are fair and transparent. By working together, players and casinos can ensure that dice games are fair and enjoyable for everyone.
Digital dice games suffer from a history of "lack of randomness"
Accounting for misalignment and manufacturing variations in dice games has essentially been rendered out in physical modern die. But the history of dice games and dice-based board games extends to digital challenges of cheating and false dice probabilities.
Random numbers sound like they ought to be easy to design into digital devices, but the results are complicated.
Generating true randomness with a computer is inherently challenging because computers operate on deterministic algorithms. This is because we generally want computers to produce reliable, predictable results. It's what makes spreadsheet sorting work. True randomness requires an element of unpredictability, which is difficult to achieve through purely mathematical means. As a result, most computer-generated randomness is actually pseudo-randomness, produced by algorithms that simulate randomness.
Modern machines try to address this through hardware Random Number Generators (RNGs). These rely on physical processes to generate random numbers and are considered more reliable for applications requiring high levels of randomness, such as cryptography and scientific simulations.
The rise of modern dice
Modern dice have undergone significant changes since their ancient counterparts. One of the most important developments has been the introduction of new materials, such as plastic and metal, which have made dice more durable and affordable.
Another significant development has been the introduction of new shapes and designs, such as polyhedral dice, which have become popular in tabletop role-playing games. These dice, which have multiple sides with different numbers, have opened up new possibilities for game design and have become a staple of modern gaming.
The rise of modern dice has also been driven by advances in technology, such as computer-aided design and 3D printing. These technologies have made it possible to create complex and intricate designs, such as custom dice with unique shapes and patterns.
Today, modern dice are used in a wide range of applications, from gaming and entertainment to education and science. Whether you’re a gamer, a scientist, or simply someone who loves dice, there’s never been a more exciting time to explore the world of modern dice.
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Our PlayBunco.com app (a game that is no stranger to swindling and unfair practices) uses JavaScript to power the random numbers it generates on each roll. Because we need to know that each roll involves three dice and each one should land independently with values of 1-6, we use a pseudo-random function built into JavaScript to replicate a sense of randomness based on a seed value.
You can play it anytime and test it yourself at PlayBunco.com. No downloads or sign-ups are required.