Let me begin by stating that this is by no means a sure-fire guide to beating the game of Craps. There is no way to beat the casino's edge long-term, but there are ways to give yourself the best chance of winning short-term. Craps is maybe the most fun game in the casino, and offers players the opportunity to potentially win big money. With that in mind, there are several bets that help sway the odds in the player's favor. We've already covered the Pass and Don't Pass Bet, which you should always place, so now let's discuss the various other bets that give players the best odds of walking away from the Craps table a winner.
| Point: | Odds Bet Payout: |
|---|---|
| 4, 10 | 2-1 |
| 5, 9 | 3-2 |
| 6, 8 | 6-5 |
Odds Bets
An Odds Bet is a bet that you are able to add on to your orginal Pass or Don't Pass bet. This bet allows you to increase your original bet by adding more money to it, provided that it has not been won or lost on the Come-Out Roll. The beauty of an Odds Bet is that there is no casino edge on it. Let's say for example that The Shooter has established a point of 5. The chances of winning a Pass Line bet would be 4 versus 6. How do we determine this? The odds of rolling a 5 are 4 out of 36, while the odds of rolling a 7 (and thus losing a Pass Line bet) are 6/36. So in this case, an Odds Bet on the Pass Line would pay 3-2, while an Odds Bet on Don't Pass would pay 2-3. As you can see, these are true odds with no casino-adjusted edge. For easy reference, refer to the chart to the right, which shows the odds of all Odds Bets payouts on the Pass Line.
| Odds Bet: | Casino Edge: |
|---|---|
| Pass Line Bet | 1.41% |
| 1x Pass Line Bet | 0.85% |
| 2x Pass Line Bet | 0.61% |
| 5x Pass Line Bet | 0.32% |
| 10x Pass Line Bet | 0.18% |
| 100x Pass Line Bet | 0.02% |
Most casinos permit you to place an Odds Bet no bigger than double the size of your original Pass or Don't Pass bet. Placing an Odds Bet such as this reduces the casino's overall Craps edge to a mere 0.85%, making it one of the best bets in the entire casino. If you manage to find a casino that permits you to place Odds Bets that are more than double your original Pass or Don't Pass bet, you should definitely take advantage of this. The bigger the Odds Bet you place, the more you swing the odds in your favor. See the chart to the left for the effects of particular sized Odds Bets on the casino's edge.
Come and Don't Come Bets
These bets are nearly identical to the Pass and Don't Pass bets, with one exception being that you cannot place a Come or Don't Come bet during the Come-Out Roll. Just as with a Pass Line bet, you will instantly win if a 7 or 11 is rolled, and instantly lose if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled. If none of these numbers are rolled, your Come bet will be moved to the point that has been established. The ensuing dice rolls act as point rolls, and if your point is rolled before a 7, you will win your Come bet, and vice versa. As with your Pass or Don't Pass bet, you may also add an Odds bet to your Come or Don't Come bet.
| Number: | Casino Odds: | True Odds: | Casino Edge: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 9-5 | 2-1 | 6.671% |
| 5 | 7-5 | 3-2 | 4.00% |
| 6 | 7-6 | 6-5 | 1.52% |
| 8 | 7-6 | 6-5 | 1.52% |
| 9 | 7-5 | 3-2 | 4.00% |
| 10 | 9-5 | 2-1 | 6.67% |
Place Number Bets
These are bets that can be placed on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, and are only permitted to take place after the Come-Out Roll. This is a very simple bet, as it will pay out winnings if your number is rolled before a 7. The odds of Place Number Bets coming through are listed in the chart to the right.