Craps may look like a game of pure chance, with players cheering and groaning as the dice tumble across the felt-lined table. In reality, the odds are not fully random. Built deep into the gameplay is a surprising mathematical edge that most casual players fail to leverage when placing their bets. Understanding this edge is key to boosting your payouts and avoiding quick trips to the ATM machine.
Unlike games like roulette and slots which provide the casino a fixed mathematical advantage, craps offers better odds for those who take the time to understand the percentages behind certain bets. By choosing wagers judiciously and avoiding the flashy bets that lure less disciplined players, you can dramatically stretch your bankroll and hang around the table for longer winning sessions.
House Edge Varies Dramatically Between Bets
Not all bets are created equal when it comes to the built-in Lukki Casino house edge. Some wagers are decidedly better than others, providing the knowledgeable player an opportunity to gain an advantage over the casino. Take a look at the house edge on some of the most common craps bets:
- Pass Line Bet – 1.41%
- Don’t Pass Line Bet – 1.36%
- Come Bet – 1.41%
- Don’t Come Bet – 1.36%
- Odds Bets – 0%
- Big 6 & 8 – 9.09%
- Field Bets – 2.78% to 16.67%
- Any 7 – 16.67%
- Horn Bets – 12.5% to 30.56%
As you can see, the basic line bets offer some of the lowest house edges in the casino, under 1.5%. Contrast those with some of the more exotic bets like Big 6 & 8 which carries a house edge of over 9%, providing the casino nearly a ten percent mathematical edge on every dollar wagered.
Clearly, sticking to the simple bets with lower edges is advantageous compared to hoping to hit it big with the riskier wagers. Just like any casino game, the longer you play without handing your money over to the house, the better position you’ll find yourself in.
Understanding the Odds Bet
While the basic Pass, Don’t Pass, Come and Don’t Come bets give players fairly good odds just by themselves, you can dramatically swing things further in your favor by combining these with the Odds bets, which have no house edge whatsoever.
Here’s a powerful concept most casual craps players fail to take advantage of – you can make additional wagers behind your original Pass or Come bets which enhance your potential payout without changing the underlying house edge you locked in with your initial bet. If you make a $10 Pass Line bet and the shooter establishes the point as 8 for example, you can place an additional “Odds” bet behind your original wager which will pay more based on the point number without changing the low 1.4% edge.
For a point number of 4 or 10, a winning Odds bet pays 2 to 1. For points of 5 or 9, it pays 3 to 2. And if the elusive 6 or 8 shows up (giving the house the greatest statistical advantage), you get paid an amazing 6 to 5 return on your Odds bet. When coupled with the low house edge on the original line bet, these additional payouts allow knowledgeable players to erase most of the casino’s mathematical advantage if played correctly over hours of rolling sessions.
In our $10 Pass Line example, let’s say you put the shooter on the number by placing a $10 Odds bet behind it, bringing your total wager to $20. If the shooter then goes on to hit their point of 8, not only do you win your original $10 Pass Line bet, you also collect $12 in profits on the winning Odds bet due to the generous 6:5 payout offered on points of 6 & 8. This totals $22 in profit on just a $20 investment, for over 100% Return on Investment (ROI). No other casino game offers that type of payout potential, demonstrating why understanding and properly playing the Odds bet gives craps players their best chance to come out ahead.
Tips for Managing Your Bankroll Wisely
Now that you understand how the odds are stacked in favor of certain good bets, exercising proper bankroll management becomes critical to apply this mathematical edge to maximize your time at the tables. Here are some tips:
- Set a gambling budget for each session and stick to it religiously
- Make your Odds bets 2-3x your original Pass/Come bet
- Start with smaller Odds bets and press them after wins
- Keep your session bankroll separate from other funds
- Leave the table when you’re up for the day rather than chasing losses
- Avoid placing prop bets in between shooter rolls
By applying these simple practices, you can stretch your craps bankroll over longer sessions and ride the waves of hot shooters profitably. Resist the urge to quickly press your bets without wins under your belt or dump more cash on the table after a few bad tosses of the dice. Remember that the odds are often in your favor over the long run as long as you play smart.
Conclusion
Approaching a craps table for the first time can be an electrifying yet confusing experience for casual gamblers, attracted by the raucous cheers around the rolling dice. Hidden below the surface is an intricate game with odds that shift substantially based on which bets you choose. By understanding the house edges, properly playing the Odds bets and managing your bankroll wisely, advantage-play craps shooters can leverage the built-in mathematical edge to boost their payouts dramatically. Next time you visit the tables, leave the sucker bets to the drunken tourists and stick to the good wagers. Your wallet will thank you after a long winning session fueled by this surprising mathematical edge that most players ignore.