Let’s Play Craps
How and Where to Play Craps
in Las Vegas.
Joel Johnson Ph.D.
Why Play Craps?????
• 1) It’s Fun!!!
• 2) It’s Social.
• 3) It’s Fair.
Craps Layout
Pass Line Bet
Assume you are given the dice to roll,
now you are the Shooter.
Initial bet of any amount up to table
maximum on the first roll (Come
Out Roll); a pass line bet pays even
money or 1:1 .
How to Win or Lose a Pass Line Bet
Odds on a Pass Line Bet
• 1) Often referred to as FREE ODDS (nothing
is free) this is an OPTIONAL second bet
placed after a shooter rolls a point.
• 2) The payout for the odds bet (not the pass
line bet) is directly based on the odds of
hitting a particular point.
• 3) Odds on a pass line bet is the BEST bet
you can make in a casino.
What are the ODDS?
How Much Odds Can You Bet?
Casino Odds Limits
House Advantage
0x
1.41%
2x
0.606%
3x
0.471%
3-4-5x
0.374%
5x
0.326%
10x
0.184%
100x
0.021%
Don’t Pass Bet
• 1) Just think OPPOSITE of the Pass line.
• 2) Most people lose, means you win.
• 3) Watch out for the Come Out Roll, seven
or eleven means you lose.
• 4) Lay more odds to win less.
• 5) Serious players only, who can take being
the odd man/woman out.
House Advantage
Casino Odds Limits
Pass Line
Don’t Pass
0x
1.41%
1.36%
2x
0.606%
0.455%
3x
0.471%
0.341%
3-4-5x
0.374%
0.273%
5x
0.326%
0.227%
10x
0.184%
0.124%
100x
0.021%
0.014%
Place Bets
How to Make a Place Bet
• 1) Place bets may be placed on the numbers
4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 at any time. Place bets
may be taken down at anytime.
• 2) Place bets win when the number placed is
hit. Place bets lose when seven is rolled.
• 3) Place bets do NOT pay the true odds of
hitting a particular number.
Place Bet Payouts
Craps Hedging
• 1) Don’t pass players only. Initial bet is
on the don’t pass for the come out roll.
• 2) After the come out roll make certain
place bets worth less than the initial
don’t pass bet. Do not place the point.
• 3) Optimal strategy is to remove a place
bet after the place bet is hit once (at
most twice).
Criteria for Choosing a Place to Play
• 1) Play where there is the smallest
minimum bet. Largest minimum you
should play is 5 dollars.
• 2) Play where you can use the most odds.
Smallest odds you should play is 3-4-5X
odds.
• 3) Play where the dealers are accustomed
to novice players.
Where Should You Play in Vegas?
• #1 Place to play by far is Casino Royale, 3 dollar
minimum, 100X odds and most players there are
novices.
• #2 Place is Main Street Station Downtown, 5
dollar minimum, 20X odds, friendly players.
• Do not play craps at the rich strip casinos such as
Wynn and Venetian. Minimum bets are 25
dollars or more; and you could be ridiculed for
not knowing how to play.
Now Go Play Some Craps!!!!