Craps Bets

Here’s a rundown of all the various bets in craps…

The Best Craps Bets The best bets in craps are the pass line bet, taking the odds, the don’t pass bar, the come bet, and placing the 6 or the 8. Let’s look at each. The craps “Free Odds” bet is unusual because it’s the only bet on the table that doesn’t have a house advantage. Yes, you read that correctlyzero house advantage. Craps is a dice game in which the players make wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Players may wager money against each other (playing 'street craps') or a bank (playing ' casino craps', also known as 'table craps', or often just 'craps').

(A) Pass Line

This is the basic bet that most players make, and it’s actually one of the bestbets on the layout, with a house edge of only 1.41%. Ifyou want an easy game then you can simply stick to this bet and ignore all the otherbets. (Though to get the best chances of winning, you should really learn the Free Odds bet too.)

(B) Field Bet

This wager good for ANY single roll of the dice at ANY time. The player wins evenmoney if a 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11 is rolled. On most tables a 2 pays double and 12 paystriple. The player loses if a 5, 6, 7, or 8 is thrown. The house edge is a modest2.77% — there are better and worse bets.

(C) Come Bet

A “virtual” Pass Line bet. It’s just like the Pass Line but can be made at any time,almost ALWAYS in the middle of a round when a point has already been established.

(D) Place Bets:

The Place Bet is basically an “on-demand Point”. The player is betting that thePlaced number will roll before a 7 rolls. This bet can be made at any time, butis usually made after a point number is already established. It’s paid as follows:

A “Buy” bet is the same as the place bet, only with a different payoff. When youBuy a point you pay a 5% commission and are paid true odds if the bet wins (2:1on the 4 and 10, 3:2 on the 5 and 9, and 6:5 on the 6 and 8). The house edge onBuy bets is 4.76%, making the Buy a better deal than thePlace bet on the 4 or 10, and a worse deal on any other numbers.

Some casinos take the 5% commission only on a win In such cases the houseedge for Buying the 4 or 10 is only 1.67%.

(E) Proposition Bets:

These bets can be made on any roll of the dice.

The house edge on prop bets ranges between 11.1% and 16.67%. If your folly requires you to make prop bets thenyou should at least find a table layout with Downtown odds in order to reduce theridiculous House advantage, though even then it’s still throwing money away.

(F) Free Odds on the Pass Line:

After a point has been established, the player can increase a pass line bet by “takingodds”. Free Odds bets are paid according to the TRUE ODDS of the dice, meaning thatthese bets carry NO HOUSE EDGE, which is why they’re called”Free” Odds. This is the only bet in the casino where the odds aren’t against you.For any given amount of money that you intend to bet on Craps, you want the highestpercentage possible on the Free Odds. Herein lies the reasonwhy you should shop for a casino that offers 5X, 10X, 20X or 100X table odds!

The Free Odds bet is placed behind the pass line or original “Flat” bet. Each pointnumber pays different odds.

We have a whole separate article dedicated to the Free Oddsbet.

(G) Free Odds on Come Bets:

Odds on come bets can be made exactly the same way as odds on pass line bets, exceptthat the player hands the Odds bet to the dealer who will place it on the numberrolled and on TOP of the original Flat bet. Just like the regular Odds bet, theOdds on the Come Bet also carries no house edge.

(H) Don’t Pass Line:

This bet is the same as a pass line bet only in reverse. If the first roll is 7or 11, the player loses, 2 or 3 wins and 12 is a push or what is called a “Bar”(neither wins or loses). Most people bet the Pass instead of the Don’t Pass, soif you bet the Don’t you may be viewed as an enemy by the other players. The houseedge is 1.36%.

Don’t Come Bet:

Same as a Come bet only in reverse. Just as with the Don’t Pass Line, dealer willplace bet behind the Don’t Come number as it is rolled. If a 7 is rolled beforethe number the player wins. This player is betting with that a point number willNOT roll before a 7 does.

Hardways

These bets win if 4, 6, 8, or 10 are thrown in pairs as pictured on the table layout.They lose when the number rolls “Easy” (not in pairs or as pictured on the tablelayout) OR if a 7 rolls first.

There are many different bets you can make on the craps table. This often confuses new players but in actual fact craps is not that complicated. In this section we outline all of the possible betting options and show you where those bets go on the table.

The Craps Table

Below is an example of a craps table. The image shows a half table layout as seen on the Microgaming online craps game. Tables at other casinos might look slightly different but the layouts are very similar.

The Different Bets

The most common craps bet. The Pass Line bet is made on the come out roll and wins if a 7 or 11 is rolled. If a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled the bet loses. If any other number is rolled the point is established. If the point is rolled before a 7 the bet wins. If a 7 is rolled the bet loses. Pays even money.

Pass Line Odds

Also known as 'Taking the Odds', the Pass Line Odds bet is an extra bet that can be made after a Pass Line bet is made and the point is established. In most cases this can be a multiple of your Pass Line bet. The bet wins if the point is rolled before a 7. This is one of the few best in the casino that has no house edge. The point determines the pay out with the most common being 2 to 1 (4 or 10), 3 to 2 (5 or 9) and 6 to 5 (6 or 8).

Don't Pass Line

The opposite bet to the Pass Line Bet. The Don't Pass bet wins if the come out roll is a 2 or 3 and loses if the come out roll is a 7 or 11. If a 12 is rolled this is a push. In the case of a push or if the point is established the dice continue to be rolled until either a 7 or the point is rolled. The bet wins if a 7 is rolled and loses if the point is roll. Wins pay even money.

Don't Pass Odds

Also known as 'Laying The Odds', this be is the opposite to Taking the Odds and wins if a 7 is rolled before the point. In most cases this bet can be a multiple of your Don't Pass bet. The pay out depends on the point with the most common being 1 to 2 (4 or 10), 2 to 3 (5 or 9) and 5 to 6 (6 or 8).

Come

The same as the Pass Line Bet with the exception that it can be made at any time after the point is established. The bet wins if a 7 or 11 is rolled and lose if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled. If any other number is rolled this becomes your point. You win if your point is rolled before a 7. Pays even money.

Don't Come

The opposite of the Come bet and can be made at any time after the point is established. Wins if a 2 or 3 is rolled and loses if a 7 or 11 is rolled. If a 12 is rolled the bet pushes. If a point is established you win if a 7 is rolled before your point. Pays even money.

Place Bets

A bet made on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 that can be made at any time. Wins if the number is rolled before a 7. This bet is the same as the odds bets but with lower pay outs. The standard pay outs are as follows 9 to 5 (4 or 10), 7 to 5 (5 or 9) and 7 to 6 (6 to 8)

Place Bets To Lose

A relatively rare betting option found at some land based casinos but quite common online. This bet is the opposite of the Place Bets. The bet can be made at any time and wins if a 7 is rolled before your number. Pay off are usually 5 to 11 (4 or 10), 5 to 8 (5 or 9), 4 to 5 (6 or 8).

Buy Bets

These bets are similar to the Place Bets with different pay offs. A Buy Bet can be placed at any time on any of the points. This bet wins if the point is rolled before a 7. Pay offs are the same as the odds but casinos take a 5% vig on the bet. Wins pay 2 to 1 (4 or 10), 3 to 2 (5 or 9) and 6 to 5 (6 or 8).

Lay Bets

The opposite to the Buy Bet. A Lay Bet can be placed on any point and wins if a 7 is rolled before the point. Due to the fact that a 7 being rolled is more likely the casinos take a 5% commission on the amount that can be won. Pay off are 1 to 2 (4 or 10), 2 to 3 (5 or 9) and 5 to 6 (6 or 8).

Big 6 and 8

A bet on Big 6 or Big 8 wins if a 6 or an 8 is rolled before a 7. These bets pay even money and should be avoided as you can make the same bet on the Place 6 or 8 and get better pay offs.

Field Bet

The Field betting areas is a big section on the craps table. A bet placed on the field wins if the next roll is a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11. If the next roll is a 3, 4, 9 or 11 you win even money. If a 2 or a 12 is rolled you win 2 to 1.

Hardways

There are four possible hardways bets (2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5). Hardways bets can be made at any time and win if the selected hardway rolls before a 7. The bet loses if a 7 is rolled or if the total is rolled with a different combination. Hardways 6 and 8 pay 9 to 1. Hardways 4 and 10 pay 7 to 1.

Any 7

Wins if a 7 is rolled and loses if any other number is rolled. Pays 4 to 1.

Any Craps

Wins is a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled and loses on any other number . Pays 7 to 1

Two Craps or Aces

Also known as Snake Eyes. Wins if a 2 is rolled and pays 30 to 1.

Twelve Craps or Two Sixes

Wins if a 12 is rolled and loses on all other numbers. Pays 30 to 1

Three Craps or Ace Deuce

Wins if a 3 is rolled and loses on all other rolls. Pays 15 to 1

Eleven or Six Five

Wins if 11 is rolled and loses on all other rolls. Pays 15 to 1

Basic Craps Bets

Horn Bet

Craps Dice Game Bets

The Horn Bet is actually four bets in one. You are placing one betting unit on 2, 3, 11 and 12. If 3 or 11 is rolled wins pay 3.75 to 1. If 2 or 12 is rolled wins pay 7.5 to 1. Any other number rolled and the bet loses.