Craps Free Odds
Advanced Craps: The House Edge. The House Edge (aka “House Advantage”) is the casino’s average profit on each betmade. Different bets have a different house edge. The house edge on the Pass Lineis 1.41%, so for every $5 bet you make you’ll lose seven cents on average. ($5 x1.41% = $0.07.) Why is this important? In Vegas you can get better odds downtown vs the strip; many downtowncasinos offer 10x Odds, or even better. The exception on the strip is the Casino Royale, which offers an amazing 100x Odds on craps. The Free Odds bethas the effect of diluting the edge of the flat bet you have to make before youcan make the Odds bet.
Let me begin by apologizing to our beginner craps players. I pride myself on being a good teacher, but I overlooked the fact the I have not yet written an article dedicated to the free odds bet. I took it for granted that everyone understood what is mathematically the best bet in the game.
However, recently, I started seeing very basic questions about the free odds bet pop up on the RoadGambler YouTube channel.
So let’s have a simple discussion about the free odds bet.
For purposes of simplicity, I am only going to discuss free odds on the light side, aka the pass and come side. For the dark side of free odds, see this: https://roadgambler.com/casino/darkside/
Also, the free odds are simply referred to as ‘odds’; so going forward, I will use the term ‘odds’ in lieu of ‘free odds.
WHAT ARE THE FREE ODDS BET?
The odds bet is a bet that can only be made once the player has bet on the pass line or come bet.
It’s mathematically the best bet on the table because the odds pay true odds. That means that, unlike almost every other bet in the casino, the house has no advantage.
Odds bets are usually capped. At most Las Vegas strip properties, the odds bet is capped at a maximum of 3x, 4x, and 5x.
For example, here is a table limit sign at a Las Vegas Strip casino.
Notice that the minimum bet on this table is $15. 3x, 4x, and 5x means that: if the point is 4 or 10, then the maximum odds are 3 times the pass line bet; if the point is 5 or 9, then the maximum odds are 4 times the pass line bet; and if the point is 6 or 8, the maximum odds allowed are 5 times the pass line.
Let’s say that you make a $15 pass line bet. That means that in the above picture since the point is 8 (as marked by the white puck), you can bet $75 worth of odds.
Some casinos will allow more free odds. Notice the sign that says 100x. That means if you bet $5, you can bet up to $500 worth of odds.
WIN-LOSS CONDITIONS OF THE ODDS BET
The odds bet will win if the point assigned to that odds bet rolls before the 7 rolls.
For example, if the point is 8, and the 8 rolls before the 7 rolls, then the odds bet will win. If the 7 rolls before the 8 rolls, then the odds bet will lose.
Odds bets can also be wagered on Come bets after the Come bet point has been established. Be warned that typically if the bettor has a live come bet with odds, and the pass line has just won, then the next roll will be a come out roll for the pass line. In that case, the odds bet attached to the come bet will not be working unless the bettor declares the odds to be working.
HOW TO IDENTIFY AND MAKE THE ODDS BET
In the picture below, the two bets that are behind the pass line bet are the odds bet. To make the odds bet, you just position your chips in the area behind your pass line bet, AFTER THE POINT HAS ROLLED.
If you are playing online, the odds bet is made by dragging chips to the area behind your pass line bet, like this…
PAYOUT ON ODDS BET
The most important thing to know about the odds bet is the payout.
The following are the payouts for each point…
Point is 4 or 10
- Odds will pay 2-1.
- For example, if you bet $10 on the odds, you will be paid $20
Point is 5 or 9
- Odds will pay 3-2.
- For example, if you bet $10 on the odds, you will be paid $15.
- When betting odds on the 5 or 9, always make sure that you bet in even dollar increments. For example, if you bet $5, you will be penalized. True odds payout would be $7.50, but since most casinos do not have 50 cent chips, the casino will round down and pay $7.
Point is 6 or 8
- Odds will pay 6-5.
- For example, if you bet $10 on the odds, you will be paid $12.
- Always bet in $5 increments, or else you will be penalized. The casino will round down from the true odds payout.
FINAL ADVICE
When in doubt about how much to bet, follow this one simple rule about how much to bet on free odds: Bet in $10 increments.
If you bet in $10 increments, you will always have the correct odds bet. Make sure that the $10 increment does not go over the maximum odds allowed.
Play responsibly and enjoy!
Posted in: Casino, Craps, Gambling
Craps -The Intimidating Table Game?
Who hasn’t walked past a craps table the first time feeling intimidation and excitement at the same time? Everybody that’s who!
Nevertheless, it doesn’t stop the curious from learning the game as quickly as possible. Novice player or not - it is for the real gambler, wanting real money action.
Learn the ins and outs and that daunting sentiment quickly disappears. It’s not like the Hollywood portrayal of high-roller James Bond types. A dress code of men in white tuxes sipping on martinis and lovely ladies blowing on their dice isn’t reality.
Come as you are…shorts, sandals, beer in hand and a stack of chips
Craps Odds Bets Explained
…and the best part is, it applies to online craps or land-based casinos!
Is Craps a Hard Game to Learn?
It might seem overwhelming and confusing at first. But let’s be honest that goes for anything when not well studied. With a bit of research, you’ll beat the house and be bumping elbows with the best of players. After all, it could be you as the next craps champion
Basic 'Must Knows'
Does the roll of the dice have any impact of the game? That is one controversial question with many players having their own theories. Watch each die long enough and decide for yourself!
Practice playing craps with my new and improved craps game.
Read MoreRead LessRules
- 3-4-5X odds are allowed.
- To simplify the game, instead of offering both place and buy bets, I offer just one for each number. 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. This works out to odds of 19-25 on the 6 & 8, 19-31 on the 5 & 9, and 19-41 on the 4 & 10.
- If the player selects 'keep bets working,' then all bets will be on for come out rolls. Otherwise, buy, hard ways, and odds on come bets will be turned off.
- If the player selects 'leave winnings bets up,' then only wins will be returned and the original wager will be re-bet. However, winning come and don't come bets are always returned. Winnings odds bets on come bets will remain up if there is a new come bet to associate them with. If the new come bet is less than the winning one, the amount of odds on the table will be the same multiple bet on the odds of the winning bet and the rest returned to the player.
- Bets may be taken down by shift-clicking.
- Put bets and taking down don't pass and don't come bets, that are already on a number, are not allowed.
To slow down the payment stage of the game, hold down the shift and control keys when you click 'roll'.
For fans of my buggy old version one, I still have it. However, I highly recommend playing this current version instead.
Best Real Money Online Craps Bonuses
Online Craps Bonuses
There are a bunch of craps bonuses out there, but not all of them are created equally. With our years of combined experience dealing with casinos, we have sought out to find the best craps bonuses, and have combined them together into the following table.
Play Craps For Free Now Practice Games
| Rank | Casino Name | Bonus | % | Wager | Cash | Code | Casino Name | Bonus info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Win A Day Casino | 🧙 | $68 | 600xB | FREE68LCBN | ||||
| Win A Day Casino | Bonus | 🧙$68 | |||||||
| % | |||||||||
| Wager | 600xB | ||||||||
| Code | FREE68LCBN | ||||||||
| 2 | Vegas Crest Casino | $1000+50 spins | 250% | 300xB&D | |||||
| Vegas Crest Casino | Bonus | $1000+50 spins | |||||||
| % | 250% | ||||||||
| Wager | 300xB&D | ||||||||
| Code | |||||||||
| 3 | 7BitCasino | ₿1.5+100 spins | 100% | 800xB | |||||
| 7BitCasino | Bonus | ₿1.5+100 spins | |||||||
| % | 100% | ||||||||
| Wager | 800xB | ||||||||
| Code | |||||||||
| 4 | CoinSaga Casino | ₿1+200 spins | 100% | 700xB | |||||
| CoinSaga Casino | Bonus | ₿1+200 spins | |||||||
| % | 100% | ||||||||
| Wager | 700xB | ||||||||
| Code | |||||||||
| 5 | HippoZino | €/£/$100+20 spins | 100% | 500xB | |||||
| HippoZino | Bonus | €/£/$100+20 spins | |||||||
| % | 100% | ||||||||
| Wager | 500xB | ||||||||
| Code | |||||||||