This is known as 'taking it down' in craps. The maximum bet for Place, Buy, Lay, Pass and Come bets are generally equal to table maximum. Lay bet maximum are equal to the table maximum win, so if a player wishes to lay the 4 or 10, he or she may bet twice at amount of the table maximum for the win to be table maximum. Understanding the Craps odds and bets that you can place is vital to ensuring you don’t lose all your money or embarrass yourself in a live game. You might hear people shouting all types of lingo and vernacular terms such as “Horn Bets” or “Lay 10” which often confuse or put off even the biggest casino degenerates. This means your best option is to make a Place 6 or Place 8 wager. Both of these bets have a 1.52% house edge, which makes them the best in crapless craps. With Place 6, you need a 6 to be rolled before a 7. The payout for winning is 7:6, and your true odds are 6:5. Place 8 works the same as Place 6 in terms of the payout and true odds. Each number pays the better odds between place and buy bets. I refer to these as 'buy bets.' They pay 7-6 on the 6 & 8, 7-5 on the 5 & 9, and 39-20 on the 4 & 10. Lay bets pay true odds, but player must prepay a 5% commission, based on the possible win.


Craps is one of the oldest casino games, and has existed in its current form for over a century.

This long history means craps is a popular game that has passed the test of time. But casinos like to put a fresh spin on older casino games – especially if it increases their edge.

Enter crapless craps, which is a variation on this time-honored game. Crapless craps add an interesting rule where you can’t lose on a pass line bet.

But does this variation help you win more often? Or is this just a gimmick by casinos?

Find out as I cover the rules of crapless craps, why you should play this game, the downside of crapless craps, and how this version compares to traditional craps.

Rules of Crapless Craps

Pass line is a bet that you make on the come out roll, which is the first roll of a new round. This wager wins when a 7 or 11 is tossed on the come out, and loses when a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled.

Any other number establishes a point. The point must be rolled before a 7 in order for pass line to win.

Crapless craps differ because you can’t lose on the come out roll. The reason is because 2, 3, and 12 are all point numbers in crapless craps.

But the catch is that 11 is also a point number. This means that the only way for you to win on the come out roll is by tossing a 7.

Once you get past the come out, normal pass line rules apply. This means that you need the point number to be rolled before a 7 in order to win.

Also, keep in mind that don’t pass line and don’t come bets aren’t available in crapless craps. This is bad because you don’t have a viable alternative to pass line.

Why You Should Play Crapless Craps

The main reason to play crapless craps is if you want to try something different than the regular game.

Perhaps you’re bored with how pass line bets work at regular craps tables. In this case, crapless craps offer an interesting alternative.

Another reason to try this game is if you have bad luck on the come out roll.

Maybe 2, 3, and/or 12 come up far more often than you’d like on the come out. In this case, you’ll be glad to know that these numbers won’t cause you to lose in crapless craps.

Another bonus is that the 7 at least gives you one option to win on the come out roll.

This is good because 7 has better odds than any other number in craps. 6 out of the possible 36 dice combinations can form a 7.

Downside of Crapless Craps

The biggest problem with crapless craps is that its pass line bet carries a 5.38% house edge.

This is really bad in comparison to a regular pass line wager, which has a 1.41% house edge. If your primary goal is to win, then you need to avoid crapless craps.

Why does crapless craps give you such a poor chance of winning?

This game seems good at face value because 2, 3, and 12 don’t cause you to lose on pass line. Instead, they’re neutral because they become point numbers.

The only thing that you’re sacrificing is the ability to win with an 11 on the come out roll. But if you take a deeper look at the math, this is a bad tradeoff.

Your odds of getting a 2 or 12 on the come out are 17:1. Your odds of landing a 3 or 11 on the come out are 9:1.

The problem here is that converting 2, 3, and 12 to point numbers doesn’t offset what you lose by not winning with 11.

This is why you face a 5.38% house edge, which is among the worst in table games. Let’s look at how crapless craps’ pass line bet compares to other casino games:

  • Video poker = 0.46% house edge (9/6 Jacks or Better)
  • Blackjack = 0.5% to 2.0% (varies by table rules)
  • Baccarat = 1.06% (betting on banker hand)
  • French roulette = 1.35%
  • Regular craps = 1.41% (pass line bet)
  • Pai gow poker = 1.46%
  • European roulette = 2.70%
  • Let It Ride = 3.51%
  • Online scratch cards = 5.0% (varies by provider)
  • Caribbean stud = 5.22%
  • American roulette = 5.26%
  • Crapless craps (pass line) = 5.38%
  • Keno = 10% to 40%

Strategy for Crapless Craps

Crapless craps is different from standard craps in terms of strategy.

This is because you’re facing a 5.38% house edge with the pass line bet. And you can’t get around this by making don’t pass line and don’t come bets because they don’t exist.

This means your best option is to make a Place 6 or Place 8 wager. Both of these bets have a 1.52% house edge, which makes them the best in crapless craps.

With Place 6, you need a 6 to be rolled before a 7. The payout for winning is 7:6, and your true odds are 6:5.

Place 8 works the same as Place 6 in terms of the payout and true odds. But the difference is that you need an 8 to be rolled before a 7 to win.

Keep in mind that some casinos only let you make place bets on 2, 3, 11, or 12 in crapless craps.

This is a huge problem, because Place 2 and Place 12 carry a 7.14% house edge, while Place 3 and Place 11 have a 6.30% house advantage. This makes these bets even worse than the pass line wager.

One more point worth making here is that some casinos allow you to place free odds behind 2, 3, and 12.

This is good because an odds bet doesn’t have a house edge. Instead, it pays at your true odds of winning.

Odds behind 2 and 12 offer a 6:1 payout, while odds behind a 3 deliver a 3:1 payout. Here’s a look at how the house advantage changes based on the amount of odds you bet:

  • 1X odds = 2.94% house edge
  • 2X odds = 2.02%
  • 3X odds = 1.54%
  • 5X odds = 1.04%

Even at 1x odds, you’re almost cutting the house edge in half. Taking 3x odds makes these bets about as good as a Place 6 or Place 8 wager.

If you’re able to bet 5x odds or higher, then you’re dealing with an even lower house edge than a regular pass line or don’t pass line bet.

Here are the instructions for how you place odds bets in crapless craps:


1. Make a Place 2, 3, or 12 bet.

2. Tell the dealer that you’re going to put odds behind your wager.

3. Place your chips behind your original bet (there’s no official space for odds).

4. You need your place bet number to be rolled before a 7 for both your regular bet and odds to come through.

How Does Crapless Craps Compare to Regular Craps?

The biggest difference between standard craps and crapless craps is the latter’s pass line rules.

As covered before, the pass line bet can’t lose on the come out because 2, 3, and 12 are all point numbers. But the drawback is that 11 also becomes a point, rather than delivering a win.

In standard craps, pass line wins with a 7 or 11 on the come out roll. And it loses with a 2, 3, or 12.

The other big difference is that crapless craps doesn’t offer don’t pass line and don’t come. This is a major downside because these wagers would normally help you bypass the unfavorable pass line wager.

Another notable change is that crapless craps allows you to bet free odds behind Place 2, 3, and 12.This doesn’t suddenly make crapless craps a great game, but it does help you reduce the house edge.

What’s the Best Craps Strategy?

If you want to exercise good craps strategy, then your first rule should be to avoid crapless craps.

This game features really bad odds on the pass line bet, despite the fact that you can’t lose on the come out roll. What’s worse is that you’re not able to make don’t bets.

Crapless craps only becomes further unplayable when you can’t make Place 6 and Place 8 wagers.

The best craps strategy begins with finding a regular table. If your casino only offers crapless craps, then you’re going to be at a major disadvantage.

The second step to perfect craps strategy is making either a pass line or don’t pass line bet and backing it with odds.

As explained earlier, odds bets don’t have a house edge. This means that you can improve your overall chances of winning by making this wager.

You must wait for a point number to be established before placing an odds bet behind your pass line or don’t pass line wager. You “take odds” when backing a pass line bet, and “lay odds” when betting behind don’t pass line.

Taking odds requires the shooter to roll the point before a 7 for you to win. Here are payouts on taking odds:

  • 2:1 on point numbers of 4 and 10.
  • 3:2 on points of 5 and 9.
  • 6:5 on points of 6 and 8.

Laying odds requires the shooter to roll a 7 before the point for you to win. Here are payouts on laying odds:

  • 1:2 for points of 4 and 10.
  • 2:3 for points of 5 and 9.
  • 5:6 for points of 6 and 8.

It’s to your advantage to take the highest odds available. But most casinos cap the amount of available odds to 5x or less.

Here’s how much the house edge drops based on the size of your odds bet:

OddsPass Line/ComeDon’t Pass Line/Don’t Come
0x1.41% house edge1.36% house edge
1x0.848%0.682%
2x0.606%0.455%
Full Double Odds0.572%0.431%
3x0.471%0.341%
3x 4x 5x0.374%0.273%
5x0.326%0.227%
10x0.184%0.124%
20x0.099%0.065%
100x0.021%0.014%

The Cromwell in Las Vegas is the only place I know of that has 100x odds. Vegas’ Main Street Station is one of the few that offers 20x odds.

Of course, you need to be wary of making bigger odds wagers, because you also need the money to back them. Here’s an example:


1. You place a $5 pass line bet.

2. You take 20x odds.

3. This means you have to bet another $100, or $105 total.

Most craps players don’t have $105 to place on every bet, even if there isn’t a house edge. This is why you need to take your bankroll size into consideration along with the odds.

Conclusion

New casino games are fun to try, especially when you’re tired of classic games like baccarat, blackjack, craps, and roulette. But as we’ve covered with crapless craps, you also need to be careful when playing gimmicky games.

Crapless craps fools players with the promise that pass line bettors can’t lose on the come out roll. But the rules behind this proposition create a 5.38% house edge.

What’s worse is that you can’t make don’t pass line and don’t come bets. Sometimes you can’t even choose Place 6 or Place 8 wagers, which takes away all of your good options.

If you must try crapless craps, then I suggest keeping your bets as low as possible. This is, after all, just a gimmick used to boost the casino’s advantage.

Ideally, you’ll play regular craps games and back your pass line and don’t pass line bets with odds. This gives you the best chance to win and is much better than crapless craps.

Did you know that Craps has been around since the 12th century? Back then, it was a game you played on the streets. Because it involves only a pair of dice or pig knuckles, it’s easy to play anywhere.

Then, people called it Hazard. It later became Craps, from the French word “crapaud” for “toad.” This refers to how people sat when they played the game on the streets.

The modern Craps we know of today though was a version developed by John H. Winn in the 1900s. In this article, we’ll teach you how to play Craps that evolved from Winn’s version.

If you want to know how to play Craps for dummies, keep reading. We’ll dissect this game to show you how Craps for beginners works.

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Craps: The Basics

Some people think the rules of Craps are complex, but it’s only about the results of a pair of dice the players roll. If you think about it that way, the game becomes less complicated. It’s simple enough for people to keep playing, and the fact that it’s one of the highest paying games in casinos helps too.

Before we go into the basics of how to play Craps though, let’s talk about the table first. Make sure to remember the terms we introduce for later.

The table has several sections, including the pass line, don’t pass bar, come, and don’t come. There are also sections numbered 4 to 10 for the place bets and the field for field bets. You may also notice the numbers 6 and 8 on a different section.

Then, let’s talk about the people on the table. There’s the boxman, who’s responsible for overseeing the game and handling the money. In many casinos, there’s one boxman for one pair of tables.

There’s also a stickman, who uses a stick to move around the dice on the table. The dealers beside the stickman announce the results of the throw and manage the bets, collect chips, or pay out players based on the results.

The game can look complicated and intimidating because of this set-up. But we’ll explain in detail what all these terms mean.

How to Play Craps and Place Bets

The thing that complicates Craps is the numerous ways to place bets and the different payouts. All of them, though, rely on the results of the throw to determine whether you’ve won or not.

If you know all the ways to place bets, then you’re an expert on Craps. However, even if you only know one or two, you can still play, which is why it’s one of the most popular games in Australian casinos.

1. Pass Line and Don’t Pass Bets

The most common bet is the pass line, in which you place the bets before the initial come-out roll, which we’ll explain later. The general rule is that if you see the sign “OFF” on the table, that means you can place your bet.

The pass line bets are pretty straightforward; the payout is 1:1, and winning requires you to roll either a 7 or 11. You lose, however, if the sum of the pair of dice is equal to 2, 3, or 12.

If the results are anything else, that’s a point and your bets stay on the Pass Line.

Craps Lay Vs Place Bet

When there’s a point, you win if the throw results in that number again. If it rolls a 7, though, the wager loses.

Note that if the roll establishes a point, your pass line or don’t pass bets stay on the table.

You can come out with winnings, no matter how small they may be, by only knowing this one rule. Nonetheless, you have to know other ways to place bets. You’ll have to know them all if you plan on going pro.

The don’t pass bets are the exact opposite; you’re betting on a 2 or 3 to pop up. You then lose if the results are 7 or 11. A 12 is a push, which means you neither win nor lose.

In the event of a point, you lose if the shooter manages to roll the point again and you win if it’s a 7.

These bets are the most recommended bets for your strategy that’ll let you walk away with profits.

2. Come and Don’t Come Bets

After the come-out roll and after the table establishes a point, that’s the time you can place come and don’t come bets. This means people can join the game even after the round has started, but they place these bets instead of the pass and don’t pass bets.

These are similar to pass and don’t pass bets in that winning or losing depends on whether the roll is a 7, 11, 2, 3, or 12. The table may also establish a point if the result is otherwise.

Note that the point after the come-out roll doesn’t affect your bets because they only apply to those who have pass line and don’t pass bets. If the shooter rolls the point again, you don’t win; rather, those who placed the pass bets win.

Likewise, if there’s a point and the first roll after you join is a 7, you win and the pass or don’t pass wagers lose.

If the first roll after you join the game is anything but a 7, 11, 2, 3, or 12, that’s your point. It only applies to come bets, so you win if it’s rolled again and lose if a 7 comes out.

In the same vein, don’t come bets are like don’t pass bets. You win if the result of the first throw is 2 or 3, but you lose if the result is a 7 or 11. If there’s a point, you win if the shooter rolls a 7 and lose if he/she rolls the point again.

3. Odds Bets

Odds bets are for the advanced players; you place them after the shooter establishes a point.

They complement your bets on the pass line, don’t pass, come, and don’t come, which means there are four types of odds bets. It’s called “taking the odds” if you place a bet on the point and “laying the odds” if you place a bet against it.

The way to win on an odd bet is to win your original bet, whether it’s a pass line, don’t pass, come, or don’t come.

The payouts vary depending on the point established. For pass line odds bets, the payout is 2:1 if the point is a 4 or 10. If it’s a 5 or 9, the payout is 3:2, and if the point is a 6 or 8, you get 6:5.

For don’t pass odds bets, the payouts are in reverse; they’re paid out 1:2 for 4 or 10, 2:3 for 5 or 9, and 5:6 for 6 or 8.

The come and don’t come odds bets operate in the same principles as the pass and don’t pass odds bets.

The advantage of odds bets is that there’s no house edge, so you get paid at true odds. This also means there’s a limit to the amount you can stake on your wager. In some casinos, you can only stake up to three times, but others may allow more.

4. Place to Win or Lose Bets

Place bets allow you to bet on a number between 4 and 10, which we call the place numbers. In essence, it’s like betting on a point, but you establish your own point. You’re betting that the shooter will roll the number you chose first before a 7.

The payouts also vary depending on the number you bet on. If you win with a 6 or 8, it has a payout of 7:6; these bets pay 7:5 on the number 5 or 9 and 9:5 on the number 4 or 10.

Another type of place bets, called place to lose bets, is the exact opposite. Like the don’t pass or don’t come bets, you win if the shooter rolls a 7 before your chosen number.

Again, the payouts vary; a 6 or 8 pays 4:5, a 5 or 9 pays 5:8, and 4 or 10 pays 5:11.

5. Buy and Lay Bets

Buy bets are like place bets; you bet on a specific number to roll before a 7. The only difference, however, is that you have to pay a 5% commission, which you pay when you place the stake or when you win.

They’re also like odds bets in terms of payouts, which means the payout is 6:5 if the shooter rolls a 6 or 8, 3:2 for 5 or 9, and 2:1 for 4 or 10.

Lay

Lay bets are like the place to lose bets with payouts like the payouts on the don’t pass odds bets. A 6 or 8 pays 5:6, 5 or 9 pays 2:3, and 4 or 10 pays 1:2.

6. Field Bets

Field bets are also popular because they’re always settled on the next roll; you place the bet before that.

Craps lay vs place setting

If you look at the table, the field contains the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12; if the result of the next throw is any of these numbers, you win. But you lose if the roll is 5, 6, 7, and 8.

The payout is 1:1 on all of these numbers except 2 and 12, which have higher payouts. Some casinos pay 2:1 on both, while others pay 3:1 on one and then 2:1 on the other.

Don’t forget to collect any winnings because if you don’t, it means you’re letting it ride, which means putting your initial wager plus your winnings on the line.

7. Other Bets

The big 6 or 8 bets are pretty straightforward; you’re betting that a 6 or 8 comes out before a 7. Payout is 1:1; it’s simple enough to attract a lot of people but it has a house edge of 9.09%, so you may not want to play this all the time and for an extended period.

Craps Lay Vs Place Cards

You may also bet on double numbers, which amounts to a hard number like 4, 6, 8, or 10. If your throw gives you either of the 2 + 2, 3 + 3, 4 + 4, and 5 + 5 dice combinations, this means you rolled it the “hard way.”

The payout depends on which hard number you bet on; a hard 6 or 8 pays 9:1 and a hard 4 and 10 pays 7:1.

Try Craps the Next Time You’re in the Casino

Our Craps for dummies guide should get you ready for the game next time you visit the casino. It’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it.

You should be aware of the superstitions of Craps players, though. Be respectful, don’t yell the word “seven,” don’t mind the lady throwing a penny under the table, and so on.

Craps lay vs place cards

After learning how to play Craps, be sure to check out our casino etiquette guide next.