Examining the Casino Atmosphere in 'Diamonds are Forever'

In my last five newsletters, I delved into James Bond's experiences with chemin de fer in various Bond films. Now that I’ve covered that game, I’ll take a step back to explore 'Diamonds Are Forever,' where Bond is depicted in Las Vegas indulging in craps.

A significant portion of the film unfolds in Las Vegas, primarily within the made-up Whyte House casino, which was originally filmed at the International Hotel, now known as the Las Vegas Hilton or LVS. At one point, it was the biggest hotel globally, spanning from 1981 to 1990. Westgate For this newsletter, I’ll mainly reference a specific movie clip that can be located on the web. The film hit theaters back in 1971, during a time when Las Vegas retained a more traditional ambiance. As a side note, I didn’t reach the age of 21 until 1986, and even then, I was a modest bettor starting with just a dollar; so, please consider my insights on non-mathematical aspects with a degree of skepticism.

At the scene's outset, we are introduced to Plenty O’Toole. I’m unsure if there’s a specific label for women like her, but they enjoy mingling around the high-stakes tables, either observing or making small bets while primarily focusing on affluent male gamblers. Their aim is to engage with single male players placing large bets, ideally in a winning scenario. They hope to bring good fortune and serve as eye-catching companions, hoping that victorious players might share a portion of their winnings. However, this type of interaction is less common in contemporary Las Vegas. I’ve witnessed similar dynamics at the Veneto casino in Panama City, which I discussed in a previous article. YouTube At around 0:20 into the scene, we hear Bond requesting credit. An unnamed player asks for $10,000 in credit, which is granted seemingly without any paperwork. I was merely six years old when this film was released, so I can’t comment on the authenticity of such casualness regarding credit issuance. Nowadays, one typically needs to apply beforehand, and the credit is assessed based on the disclosed bank balance serving as collateral.

The large amount Bond requests catches Plenty's attention. Following some light-hearted exchanges, she rolls the dice for Bond, landing a nine on the first roll. The subsequent roll results in a seven, commonly termed a '7-out.' For those not well-versed in craps, this indicates a loss. The stickman mistakenly states, 'Seven loser, the lucky lady craps out.' While it was indeed a losing seven, she didn’t 'crap out.' To 'crap out' means rolling a 2, 3, or 12 on the initial roll. The stickman should have corrected his statement to, 'Seven loser, the lucky lady sevens out .' Chip Hustled in Panama .

At the 1:42 mark, Bond seizes the dice for a new come-out roll. Upon throwing, he rolls a 10. There are a few unusual aspects about this roll. First, on a come-out roll, the die identifying the point should display the black side up, not the white. Furthermore, the dice don’t even reach the 'don’t come' area on the table. If anyone could expertly toss a die to gently tap the far edge of the table, it would certainly be Bond. Instead, this roll appears weak and likely would have been deemed a 'no roll' under actual gambling circumstances.

After establishing the point with a 10, Bond places his bets:

I must commend his decision to take full odds on the 10. The 'limit on all the numbers' bet is a mediocre choice. For those less familiar with the game, he is making place bets on the 5, 6, 8, and 9, along with a buy bet on the 4. It’s reasonable to assume he wouldn’t need to make a buy bet on the 10 since he already holds both pass and odds bets on that number. However, Bond deserves a gentle reprimand for placing below-average bets on the hard 10 and the 11.

It’s implied that Bond has been playing for some time, and we then see him cashing out. Remember, he initially bought in for $10,000 in credit. Upon departure, he has accumulated $50,000, having presumably settled the marker, plus an unidentifiable chip that he generously tips the dealers with. Plenty praises him for his success, and he rewards her with $5,000. It’s worth noting that both the $5,000 and $10,000 'chips' are generic placeholders that anyone might easily acquire from a casino supply outlet. Afterward, Plenty attempts to learn more about Bond, but since this discussion diverges from gambling, I’ll leave that to your imagination.

• Full odds on the 10
• $200 on the hard way (I presume the hard 10)
• The limit on all the numbers
• $250 on the 11

In a later part of the film, another scene presents Q engaging in cheating at slot machines. This clip begins at 4:20. He uses a device that seemingly halts the reels on the symbols present on his ring, which he describes as an 'RPM controller.' I won’t delve into evaluating this gadget; considering Q has designed an invisible car, one must accept his inventions on good faith.

However, I do want to discuss this scene from a legal and ethical standpoint. Given Bond and Q’s roles in law enforcement, Q’s blatant cheating at a casino appears rather out of character. Scenarios like these that don't contribute to the overall narrative and seem nonsensical are part of why 'Diamonds Are Forever' is not among my favorite Bond films and ranks as my least liked of Connery's outings.

Next week, I’ll take a look at gambling-related scenes in 'Goldfinger' and 'Octopussy.' Although these don’t occur in casinos, they do feature private betting on golf and backgammon respectively. Until next time, may luck be on your side. YouTube Find mathematically sound strategies and insights for various casino games including blackjack, craps, roulette, and many others.

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An In-Depth Look at the Casino Scenes in Diamonds Are Forever - Wizard of Odds

Written by: Michael Shackleford