Introduction
One argument that comes up a lot is how to quantify the house edge in craps. Normally the house edge is defined as the ratio of expected loss to the initial bet. However, how do you treat bets, like the place bet for example, when many rolls may be required to resolve the bet and the player can take it down anytime? Is it a push or should we assume the bet will stay on the table until resolved?
Personally, I prefer to define the house edge in craps on a 'per bet resolved' basis. However, for those who disagree, I present this page, which defines the house edge all three ways.
In e-Craps (touchscreen everything but the dice are real) in NYC, you can only Place a max of $200 for each #. But you can still BUY the # when you max out the Place. I was on a long streak, and the 6 was hitting like crazy. I kept Placing $ on the 6 till i maxxed at $198. I then went to BUY the 6 for $50. It hit and i pressed to $100.
Multi-Roll Bets
The following table shows the house edge of all the bets in craps which may take multiple rolls to resolve. The house edge is shown three ways: per bet made, per bet resolved, and per roll.
Craps House Edge
| Bet | Pays | Expected Rolls | House Edge Per Bet Made | House Edge Per Bet Resolved | House Edge Per Roll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | 1 to 1 | 3.38 | 1.41% | 1.41% | 0.42% |
| Don't Pass | 1 to 1 | 3.47 | 1.36% | 1.40% | 0.40% |
| Taking Odds 6 and 8 | 6 to 5 | 3.27 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Taking Odds 5 and 9 | 3 to 2 | 3.60 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Taking Odds 4 and 10 | 2 to 1 | 4.00 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 6 and 8 | 5 to 6 | 3.27 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 5 and 9 | 2 to 3 | 3.60 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 4 and 10 | 1 to 2 | 4.00 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Place 6 and 8 | 7 to 6 | 3.27 | 0.46% | 1.52% | 0.46% |
| Place 5 and 9 | 7 to 5 | 3.60 | 1.11% | 4.00% | 1.11% |
| Place 4 and 10 | 9 to 5 | 4.00 | 1.67% | 6.67% | 1.67% |
| Big 6 and 8 | 1 to 1 | 3.27 | 2.78% | 9.09% | 2.78% |
| Don't Place 6 and 8 | 4 to 5 | 3.27 | 0.56% | 1.82% | 0.56% |
| Don't Place 5 and 9 | 5 to 8 | 3.60 | 0.69% | 2.50% | 0.69% |
| Don't Place 4 and 10 | 5 to 11 | 4.00 | 0.76% | 3.03% | 0.76% |
| Buy 6 and 8 * | 23 to 21 | 3.27 | 1.46% | 4.76% | 1.46% |
| Buy 5 and 9 * | 29 to 21 | 3.60 | 1.32% | 4.76% | 1.32% |
| Buy 4 and 10 * | 39 to 21 | 4.00 | 1.19% | 4.76% | 1.19% |
| Buy 6 and 8 ** | 23 to 20 | 3.27 | 0.69% | 2.27% | 0.69% |
| Buy 5 and 9 ** | 29 to 20 | 3.60 | 0.56% | 2.00% | 0.56% |
| Buy 4 and 10 ** | 39 to 20 | 4.00 | 0.42% | 1.67% | 0.42% |
| Lay 6 and 8 * | 19 to 25 | 3.27 | 1.22% | 4.00% | 1.22% |
| Lay 5 and 9 * | 19 to 31 | 3.60 | 0.90% | 3.23% | 0.90% |
| Lay 4 and 10 * | 19 to 41 | 4.00 | 0.61% | 2.44% | 0.61% |
| Lay 6 and 8 ** | 19 to 24 | 3.27 | 0.69% | 2.27% | 0.69% |
| Lay 5 and 9 ** | 19 to 30 | 3.60 | 0.56% | 2.00% | 0.56% |
| Lay 4 and 10 ** | 19 to 40 | 4.00 | 0.42% | 1.67% | 0.42% |
| Hard 6 and 8 (US) | 9 to 1 | 3.27 | 2.78% | 9.09% | 2.78% |
| Hard 6 and 8 (AU) | 19 to 2 | 3.60 | 1.39% | 4.55% | 1.26% |
| Hard 4 and 10 (US) | 7 to 1 | 4.00 | 2.78% | 11.11% | 2.78% |
| Hard 4 and 10 (AU) | 15 to 2 | 4.00 | 1.39% | 5.56% | 1.39% |
- Interblock's Electronic Craps is available as a Dealer Assist Sic-Bo and Craps Table, an Automated Sic-Bo and Craps Machine, or as part of the StarBar.
- The website is operated and managed by EveryMatrix Ltd., a company bearing registration number C44411, and Craps Buy 6 And 8 having its registered address at Level 5, Suite 1A, Portomaso Business Tower, Vjal Portomaso, St. Julians, STJ 4012, Malta and by EveryMatrix N.V., a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Curacao, bearing company registration number 108354.
Footnotes:
* Commission always paid
** Commission on win only
AU Australia rules
US United States rules
Let me add two more things, based on frequent reader comments:
- Some of these bets may not exist anywhere on earth. For example, I've never seen a casino with buy bets on a 5, 6, 8, and 9 where the commission was payable on a win only. Nevertheless, I don't know the rules of every craps table on earth. I also know that if I omit such bets, somebody will write in and take me to task for the omission.
- The table above assumes wins are calculated exactly. In other words, no rounding up or down. Let me make it perfectly clear that you can lower the house edge if the dealers will round a win up or a commission down. A common one is a 5% commission on a $25 bet is $1.25. If the casino rounds that down to $1, then that cuts the commission to 4%. Finding other situations is an exercise left up to the reader.
Single-Roll Bets
The following table shows the house edge of all the bets in craps which are always resolved in a single roll, except the field. Thus, there can be only one way to define the house edge.
Craps House Edge
| Bet | Pays | Probability Win | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 33 | 2.78% | 5.56% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 32 | 2.78% | 8.33% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 31 | 2.78% | 11.11% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 30 | 2.78% | 13.89% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 29 | 2.78% | 16.67% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 16 | 5.56% | 5.56% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 15 | 5.56% | 11.11% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 14 | 5.56% | 16.67% |
| Any craps (2, 3, or 12) | 7 | 11.11% | 11.11% |
| Any craps (2, 3, or 12) | 7.5 | 11.11% | 5.56% |
| Any seven (US) | 4 | 16.67% | 16.67% |
| Any seven (AU) | 4.5 | 16.67% | 8.33% |
Field
- If the field bet pays 2 to 1 on both the 2 and 12, then the house edge is 5.56%.
- If the field bet pays 2 to 1 on the 2 and 3 to 1 on the 12, then the house edge is 2.78%.
- If the field bet pays 3 to 1 on the 2 and 2 to 1 on the 12, then the house edge is 2.78%.
- If the field bet pays 3 to 1 on both the 2 and 12, then the house edge is 0.00%.
Internal Links
- How the house edge for each bet is derived, in brief.
- The house edge of all the major bets on both a per-bet made and per-roll basis
- Dice Control Experiments. The results of two experiments on skillful dice throwing.
- Dice Control Advantage. The player advantage, assuming he can influence the dice.
- Craps variants. Alternative rules and bets such as the Fire Bet, Crapless Craps, and Card Craps.
- California craps. How craps is played in California using playing cards.
- Play Craps. Craps game using cards at the Viejas casino in San Diego.
- Number of Rolls Table. Probability of a shooter lasting 1 to 200 rolls before a seven-out.
- Ask the Wizard. See craps questions I've answered about:
- Simple Craps game. My simple Java craps game.
Written by: Michael Shackleford
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From Chapter 2
Craps Place Bets and Big 6 and Big 8 Bets
*****************************************************************
In This Chapter
- Craps Personnel
- Flow of the Craps game
- Dice totals and their frequencies, probabilities and odds
- Craps Bets
**********************************************************
Place Bets
The Place bets are among the most popular Craps bets for a right bettor. They can be made at any time. To make, for ex, a Place bet on 6 you have to tell the dealer: “Place the 6”, or “Cover the 6”. The dealer will place your chips in the designated area inside the box with the number 6. You win your place bet that you can make on any point number – a 4,5,6,8,9 or 10, – if a point number repeats before a 7 is thrown. You lose if a 7 is tossed before a point comes up.
If you place a 4 or 10, the correct odds for those numbers are 2 to 1 against, because there are only three ways to roll them against six ways to throw a 7. The house payoffs, however, are made at only 9 to 5 ratio. The difference between the correct odds ratio and the payoff ratio gives the house the advantage of 6.67% against the player. If the payoff was 10 to 5 (the correct odds), then the Place bets would be the even proposition bets.
The correct odds for the Place bets on a 5 or 9 are 3 to 2, but the payoffs are only 7 to 5. In result, the house has the advantage of 4%. The correct odds for the Place bets on a 6 or 8 are 6 to 5, but the payoffs are made at 7 to 6. That difference gives the house the edge of 1.52% over the player.
In order to get full payoffs on the Place bets on a 4 (or 10) and a 5 (or 9), your bets should be in increments of $5, because the payoffs are 9 to 5 and 7 to 5 respectively. If you place a 6 or 8, your bets should be in multiples of 6 due to the payoff of 7 to 6.
Some players like to place bets on the “inside numbers” – a 5,6,8 and 9. Other players prefer “outside numbers” – a 4,5,9 and 10. Aggressive players place bets “across the board” and cover all the numbers at the same time – a 4,5,6,8,9 and 10.
A player can request the Place bets to be “off” for one or more rolls. They can also be removed, reduced or increased at any time. All Place bets are “off” on a come out roll – if a 7 is thrown, you don’t loose your bets. If you want your bets working on a come out roll, you must tell the dealer: ”Place bets are “on” on the come out”.
Big 6 and Big 8
These two Craps bets are similar to the Place bets on a 6 and 8. Big 6 and Big 8 bets can be made at any time including a come out roll. You can increase, reduce or remove Big 6 and Big 8 bets at any moment prior to a roll.
Craps Buy 6 And 8 Months
Big 6 and Big 8 win if a 6 and 8 repeat before a 7 is rolled. If a 7 is tossed before the numbers come up, you lose the Big 6 and Big 8. The difference between them and the Place bets on a 6 and 8 is in the amount of the payoff. The correct odds for a 6 and 8 to beat a 7 is 6 to 5 against them. The payoff for the winning Place bets is 7 to 6, but the payoff for the Big 6 and Big 8 in Las Vegas casinos is made at even money. In result, the house edge is raised to 9.09% instead of 1.52% given to the house by the Place bets. Thus, if you want to cover a 6 or 8, it’s better to place them than bet on the Big 6 and Big 8. In Atlantic City the Big 6 and Big 8 are paid at 7 to 6 ratio and that makes them identical to the Place bets on a 6 and 8.
Copyright Progress Publishing 1998
Craps Buy 6 And 84