How to Play CRAPS Part 5: The Best Bet in Las Vegas….

In our last last article, we discussed the basic bets in craps: the “pass” and “don’t pass” bets. If you’ll recall, we found that the payout on these bets is 1:1, even though the true odds are greater than that (on the “pass” bet), or, less than that (on the “don’t pass” bet).

So, how can we get the “true” odds on our bets? Believe it or not, there are actually two ways to get paid the actual odds when you win a bet.

For this article, we will only discuss one of these ways: take the odds. I’m sure you have seen signs all over Las Vegas advertising “3 X odds” or “10 X odds”. Did you ever wonder just what the hell they were talking about? Well, here’s the skinny on this:

• When you have a bet on the “pass” line, once the shooter establishes a “point” the casinos allow you to place an additional bet that is 3 times, or 5 times, or, whatever, the size of your original bet. If, for instance, you have a $10 bet on the pass line, then, once the shooter establishes a point for the hand, you can bet an additional $30 (3 X $10), or $50 (5 X $10), or more. If the shooter wins the hand by rolling his point before rolling a seven, you win all of your bets.
• You place this bet by putting the additional checks on the table behind your original pass line bet. Also, you can take this additional bet down at any time before the hand ends. Important Note: This bet is only allowed when the “point” is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Other point bets can be made on the “field bet” line, which we will discuss at a later time.

Now, here’s the good part! If you win the bet, then the House pays the actual odds on the additional bet that you made, rather than the 1:1 payout of the pass line bet.

• Explanation: If you’ll remember our little chart from Part 1, you’ll remember that, on any given roll, there are six ways to roll a 7. Also, there are only three ways to make a 4 or a 10. So, if the shooter’s point is 10, and he makes it, you will win $20 on your $10 odds bet (for a total return of $30), because the actual odds of rolling a 10 versus a 7 is 3:6, or, 2:1, so the House pays you at the 2:1 odds rate. This works exactly the same for the points of 5 & 9 (paid at 3:2) and6 & 8 (paid at 7:6).

In actual play, it will go like this…

First, you must have a “pass line” bet prior to the start of the hand. Now, we’ll say the shooter rolls a 9 on the come-out roll, making that his point. Your pass line bet is $10, and the House allows 3 X odds. At this point, you bet an additional $30 on an odds bet. Later, the shooter hits his point and wins the hand. Your payout will be $10 on the pass line bet, and $60 on the odds bet, for a total win of $70 on your $40 total wager (your $40 has become $110). The House takes no percentage, or hold, on the odds bet, and pays the actual mathematical odds (in this case, 2:1).

There is only one other bet that can be made in any Las Vegas Casino that will pay actual odds.

Next time…Playing On The Side

How To Play Craps:   Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6