Craps may very likely be one of the most complicated casino games available with so many different betting options as well as different odds for the different bets.  All of these factors can make the game of craps seem intimidating but it is typically where the action is because it is such a lively game with so much involvement from the betters so many people flock to the craps tables even if they aren’t very knowledgeable.  The great thing about the game of craps is that it is one game where the house offers a bet where they do not have an advantage.  Although craps is a complicated game with many different options available, it is possible to be successful at this game without knowing all the minute details of the game.  A few strategic bets can help you to succeed at the craps table.

Betting the Pass Line

The pass line bet is a 1:1 payout that gives the house a 1.41% advantage which isn’t terribly overwhelming.  Most contestants at the craps table bet the pass line because of the favorable odds.  The pass line bet is made prior to the come out roll by placing your bet in the pass line area of the table.  Although this bet is available throughout the game, it is recommended that you place this bet prior to the come out roll because your chances of winning are greater at this time.  If a 7 or 11 is rolled on the come out roll you win, however, if a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled you lose.  Any other roll becomes the point and if this number is rolled before a 7 is rolled you are also a winner.  If the 7 is rolled before the point, you lose your bet. 

Can You Really Buy the Odds?

Although it sounds too good to be true, as previously mentioned, craps is one casino game that offers a bet where they do not have the advantage.  When you bet the pass line, you have the opportunity to place a bet on the odds after the point is determined.  When you place an odds bet it means that you are betting that the point will be rolled before a 7 is rolled.  When the point is a 6 or an 8, the payout for an odds bet is 6:5.  The odds pay 3:2 for a 5 or 9 roll and 2:1 for a 4 or 10 roll.  The table below illustrates the house advantage when you combine a pass line bet with an odds bet.

The Don’t Pass Bet

A don’t pass bet is essentially the converse of pass line bet.  This bet is known as a wrong bet because it is the opposite bet as most people at the table make.  For this reason, you win when the majority of bettors lose and you lose when the majority of betters win.  You will win on a 2 or a 3 in the come out roll and you will lose on a 7 or 11 in the come out roll.  A roll of a 12 results in a push where neither you nor the house wins the bet and your bet is returned to you. 

The Laying the Odds Bet

Laying the odds is similar to the option to buy odds when you bet the pass line.  When you place a don’t pass bet you have the option to lay odds.  While buying odds is a bet that the point will be rolled before a 7 is rolled, laying the odds is a bet that a 7 will be rolled before the point.  If the point is a 4 or a 10 this bet will pay 1:2 if it is a 5 or a 9 it will pay 2:3 and if it is a 6 or an 8 it will pay 5:6.  The table below illustrates the house advantage when you combine a don’t pass bet with a laying odds bet.

The Come Bet

The come bet is for the more aggressive craps player who is not content to wait for their pass line or don’t pass bets to pan out.  A come bet is very similar to the pass line bet with the exception that it does not have to be made before the come out roll to avoid an insurmountable disadvantage.  You can place a come bet at any time during the game.  You may also place odds on a come bet but you should be aware that if the pass line point is rolled before the come bet is resolved, then the odds will not be applicable unless a request is made to leave the odds active.  Also, if the come bet is won on the come out roll, the odds bets on that come bet will be returned.  There is also a don’t come bet which is the direct opposite of a come bet. 

The Place Number Bets

The place number bets are always an option and many contestants who are impatient and need to have each roll of the dice result in a win or a loss often favor this type of bet.  The problem with these types of bets however is that they can be confusing and betting on the same number in different ways can result in different advantages to the house.  If you want to place number bets, you should be aware of which options offer the lowest house advantage before placing your bet.  For example if you want to bet that a 6 will be rolled before the next 7, you have the option to place bet on 6, buy bet on 6 or bet the big 6.  These are all winners if a 6 is rolled before a 7 is rolled but their house advantages are 1.52% for the place bet, 4.76% for the buy bet and 9.09% for the big 6 bet.  It is clear to see that the place bet is your best option but it is still not uncommon to see those who are not aware of the odds to place a big 6 bet and the casinos rely on this lack of knowledge to pad their profits.  With both buy and place bets you are betting that the number you choose will be rolled before a 7 is rolled.  Conversely, with a lay bet you are betting that a 7 will be rolled before the chosen number.  When placing a lay bet, your bet is for more than you can win because the odds on the 4 and 10 are 1:2, odds on the 5 and 9 are 2:3 and odds on the 6 and 8 are 5:6.  Additionally, the players placing lay bets must pay a 5% commission on potential earnings.  For this reason, bets should be made in multiples of $40 for the 4 and 10, $30 for the 5 and 9 and $24 for the 6 and 8.  This will prevent rounding up on the commissions that further enhance the house advantage.

The table below offers a summary of some of the available bets and the advantage that they give to the house.  Careful note should be made to the options highlighted in red.  Although these bets are available, it is important to note that there are other bets that win on the same roll but pay at better odds.

The Proposition Bets

Proposition bets are bets that are placed on the next roll of the dice.  In these bets you are betting on a specific number to be rolled on the next toss of the dice.  These bets offer instant gratification if you are a winner but they give the house the largest advantage so they are not considered a particularly smart bet.  A field bet is a bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12.  The 2 pays out at 2:1 and the 12 pays usually pays out at 3:1 although some casinos only offer a payout of 2:1 on the 12 in a field bet.  Although this seems like a great bet because there are 7 chances to win and only the 5, 6, 7 and 8 lose but statistics show that these four numbers are more likely to be thrown than the field 7.  Casinos love when players place hop bets because these bets are most favorable to the casino.  In this bet you are placing your bet on the exact outcome of the next roll.  For example instead of simply betting an 8 you are betting that the 8 will be obtained through a combination of a 3 and a 5.  Hop bets of separate numbers pay out at 15:1 while hop bets of the same number (i.e. 4 and 4) pay out at 30:1.  Horn bets must be made in increments of $4 and offer a house advantage of 12.5%.  This is a bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 11 or 12.  The 2 and the 12 payout at 27:4 and the 3 and the 11 payout at 3:1.  The table below offers a summary of some of the available proposition bets and the advantage that they give to the house.

As you can see, craps is a complicated game with a great deal of betting options.  The secret to success in playing craps though is to be aware of which options give the least favorable odds to the casino.  In general the line, odds and place bets are your best options with a relatively low house advantage.  Be cautious of bets that win with identical results but offer less favorable odds than others.  Always be sure to choose the option that gives you the best possible odds.