Craps - All About Craps Bets

There are a lot of bets found on a casino craps table. Some of you may need a crash course in craps or you might just wonder about a certain kind of bet. With that in mind, here are the bets you can find with a synopsis of how each one works.

Pass Line Bets

Each time a shooter fails to make their point the dice will be offered to the next player in clockwise rotation around the table. You do not have to shoot the dice to play craps, but if you do shoot, you must have either a pass line bet or a don't pass bet. The first roll is called the come-out roll, and each time the pass line wins there is a new come-out roll.

On the come-out roll the pass line wins on 7 and 11 (a natural) and loses on 2, 3 and 12 (craps). The pass line always pays even money. If a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 is rolled, that becomes the "point" and must be rolled again before a 7 or the pass line loses.

Pass Line Odds

Once a point is made, any pass line bet may be backed-up with odds. Many casinos offer double or triple odds, meaning you can bet two or three times the amount of your pass line bet. The odds bet is paid the actual odds of the point being thrown as opposed to a seven being thrown, such as being paid 2-1 o $10 on a $5 bet for a 4 or 10 point. This is the only bet in the casino that the house has no edge on - none at all.

Don't Pass Bets

When you bet on the don't pass line, you win immediately when 7 rolls, lose on a 2 and 3, and push on a 12 (some casinos push on 2 with a loss on 12 and the layout specifies: Bar 12 or Bar 2).

Don't Pass Odds

You can take odds of double or triple your don't pass bet by "laying" the odds. You will be paid the actual odds of seven rolling before the point, such as 1-2 or laying $10 to win $5 on a 4 or 10 point.

Come and Don't Come Bets

The come line and don't come lines work exactly like the pass line - but you bet it after a table number has been established on the pass or don't pass line. You may take odds.

Place Bets

Place bets are wagers on the specific numbers of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. Each time your place bet number rolls you are paid. You lose your place bets when a 7 rolls. Place bets are "off" on the come out roll.

Betting Against the Numbers

You can bet against the numbers of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. When you bet against the numbers you are laying the odds and win when a 7 rolls before the number. If 7 rolls, you lose.

Buy Bets

Buy bets are like super place bets. You bet more on any number of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and pay a commission or vigorish of 5 percent and are paid true odds.

Buy Behind Bets

Buy behind bets are super bets against the numbers of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. You pay a commission or vigorish of 5 percent and are paid true odds.

Put Bets

If you want to bet a number directly and take odds on your bet, you ask for a put bet. It's like skipping the pass line or come line and going directly to the number. Because you are taking worse odds, if you must make a put bet, take odds to reduce the house edge.

Field Bets

Field bets are one-roll bets. You win or lose. The numbers in the field are usually 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Field roll winners pay even money except the number 2 and 12. Often 2 pays double and 12 pays triple. Read the layout to learn the payoffs at your favorite casino as these payouts are different and some casinos.

Big 6 and 8

The big 6 and 8 on the corners of the craps layout pay even money. They may be put up and taken down any time by the player. They lose when a 7 rolls.

Hardway Bets

Hardway bets are made on the numbers 4, 6, 8 and 10. Each pays the stated odds when the dice roll the number the hard way (a pair), and lose if the dice total 7 (except on the come out roll) or roll the easy way (non-pair). So, if you bet on hard 8 and the dice come 4-4, you win. If the dice come 2-6 or 5-3, you lose.

Proposition Bets

Other bets on the craps table are called proposition bets. Each bet is for one roll only. A hopping hardway 8 must roll 4-4 on the next roll or it loses. Likewise with any other hopping bet. Some casinos pay up to 33-1 on hopping bets. Most pay 30-1.

Horn Bets

Horn bets are also proposition bets because they are for one-roll only. However, when you win a proposition bet the stickman will leave your original bet in action. The proposition area in front of the stickman has Any Seven, Any Craps (2, 3, 12), Eleven, Twelve, Two and Three. When you specify that you want a horn bet, you bet will be on 2, 3, 11 and 12 only.

A world bet includes 2, 3, 11, 12 and 7 with your bet split evenly between those numbers. A horn-high bet has an extra dollar of each $5 bet on the number you chose (2, 3, 11 or 12). So, a horn-high 12 is $1 on 2, 3 and 11 and $2 on 12.