Even so, the optimal strategy of betting the table minimum on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line bet, before betting the maximum on Odds bets, is a great way to put the bulk of your craps bankroll behind a zero house edge proposition. THE ULTIMATE CRAPS STRATEGY GUIDE. There is nothing quite like Craps, especially at a hot table where Craps players are winning together. The camaraderie that goes with playing toward a common goal makes Craps the most social game in an offline or online casino, and the cheers, high fives and rowdiness when the shooter makes it clear that the players are having fun. The best strategy for the typical player is the '3 point molly.' Place a bet on the pass line. Once the point is established, back the pass line bet up with at least two times odds, and make a come. House edge on many bonus bets, the fire bet the repeater bet, the ATS bet. But unlike the fire bet and repeater bet which in many cases does not reward you for having a real good roll, the ATS bet does. The idea is to protect your bonus bet with your pass line bet so a 7 does not cost you as much. Then try to hit a craps number on the come out.

Craps is among the top-rated and widely-favored games of chance, attracting countless players to real-life casinos and online gambling sites.

Being good at Craps takes certain knowledge, skills, and the right attitude. It also requires players to find and follow the best Craps strategy according to their playstyle, budget, and needs. The game has rules and specifics that gamblers should learn before they plunge into the deep waters of professional play.

The Craps table, regardless of whether you play in a traditional offline casino or an online facility, has multiple betting sections. To play casino Craps successfully, you need to know when, how, and where to put your chips on the table. The many aspects of Craps may give inexperienced players the impression that it’s challenging, but we’re here to help.

Read on to discover how to pick the best strategy for Craps, which casinos to visit, and all the secrets that will help you become a master.

Play Free Craps

As a new player, you don’t need to master any advanced Craps strategy. Your first concern should be to find a free version and see if you’ll enjoy it. Luckily, many internet iGaming sites offer free online Craps where you can experiment to your heart’s content. There’s no need to download special software – you can play the game via your web browser, using free chips.

There is another option, too – some casinos provide promotions that require no deposit. Thus, you can check out and try playing Craps without making costly mistakes due to a lack of experience or a misunderstanding of the rules. To wager for free is the perfect method to learn the basic bets and any craps betting strategy without wasting money. We provide a playable demo on our website too. Just click the play button on the right to try it out.

How to Play Craps Like a Professional

Finding a suitable approach to playing Craps is unquestionably the key to success, but there are other factors that you should consider before you begin your game. The essential factors that have a substantial influence on the quality of the game and the chances to win include choosing whether to play online or offline, finding a reliable casino and testing Craps betting strategy tips while playing for free to brush up on your skills. Let us take a close look at these factors and discuss their importance:

How to Choose an Online Casino for Craps

Experienced bettors understand that it is crucial to wager only in reputable and licensed casinos. To find such an establishment, you could follow online reviews and customer opinions on the internet. Such reports are valuable because they provide first-hand information about the workings of casinos and can give you an idea of what to expect.

Decisive characteristics that you should look for include the type of Craps software used by the casino and the available payment options. Furthermore, the top operators feature demo modes that will allow you to trial Craps betting strategy ideas with no financial risk. The quality and fairness of a game depend on the developers behind it. Choosing established iGaming studios ensures that you can enjoy flawless and smooth products with superior quality.

The variety of payment options and transparent banking conditions are also essential, as complications are the last thing you need when it comes to deposits and withdrawals. Look for Craps sites that provide secure and widely-used methods, such as debit & credit cards, e-Wallets, wire transfers, and so on. Do not hesitate to select a casino that provides the method which is most suitable for you.

Best Craps Casinos

Playing Craps Online or Offline

In the past, brick-and-mortar casinos were the single option for anyone willing to try their luck. People did not have any alternatives on where to play the games they favor. Still, this is when Craps gained popularity as the ultimate social gambling game. Folks gathered up, wagered in unison, and cheered when they won. This aspect of the game was and still is a big reason for many to visit real-life venues. The biggest craps winners are still found at the craps table in land based casinos.

On the other hand, technological advancements resulted in the boom of online casinos, which have different advantages. Playing casino Craps online has numerous perks. The games are accessible at any time of the day, and you can find the best Craps betting strategy with no pressure. Online gaming gives you the freedom to play whenever you wish and does not tie you down to your computer at home.

Online Craps games also enable you to understand the craps rules and place bets without worrying about the crowd. Thus, you will obtain experience and skills, which will make you more confident. You will also decide which approach works best for you without risking any of your personal funds.

We should mention that certain online casinos offer generous bonuses that you can use to place wagers and enjoy Craps or other intriguing casino games.

Online games also allow you to go at your own pace. No angry bettors will disturb you if your casino Craps strategy goes against their superstitions (this happens a lot). Many punters prefer playing on their mobile devices, which gives them unparalleled mobility and freedom. You can also participate in Craps tournaments organized by online casinos – something that rarely happens in traditional venues. As you can see, playing online Craps has numerous benefits that are worthy of consideration.

After you locate a trustworthy offline or online casino and get used to the basics, you should concentrate on finding the right plan of action. Many people boast that they’ve got the best system, which could be confusing, especially if you’re a non-experienced player. Continue reading to learn more.

Finding A Winning Craps Strategy

After you select a good casino and brush your skills by playing free craps games online, it is time to get familiar with the best strategy for craps. Adopting a craps betting strategy will help you find out more about the game and star playing like a real professional. At first, it may seem intimidating and challenging, but understanding and a winning craps strategy that functions perfectly will make a significant difference.

The essential wager each craps player should understand and know is the so-called pass line bet, which is done as you put your chips directly on that line just before the come out roll. In case the shooter manages to roll 7 or 11, then the wager pays off an even amount of cash. Your bet becomes losing in case the shooter rolls 2, 3 or 12, and this situation is known as “craps out”. When do you win? Your wager is winning when the shooter rolls any other number. In this case, the rolled number turns into a box point, and you win if the shooter rolls the same number before they make the so-called “seven out“.

The pass line bet has a house edge of just 1.41%. The opposing wager is the “don’t pass” bet and its main characteristic is the lower house edge. However, a wise recommendation is not to use this particular wager because it will unquestionably get you some enemies at the playing table. You can practice the bet when playing casino craps online because you do not risk experiencing the anger of other players.

As soon as the point gets established, you are able to take odds. Taking odds is an extra wager, which typically is the best possible bet in the casino. Why? The answer is that the wager pays of actual odds as there is no house edge this time. However, casinos put restrictions as to the amount gamblers can wager in this situation. The majority of traditional and online casinos allow 3-4-5x odds, where players can bet three times as much as the pass line bet you have made on 4 or 10; four times as much as the pass line bet on 5 or 9; and five times as much as the pass line wager on 6 or 8. If your best craps strategy is to continually practice the pass line bet and the max out the odds, then the house edge drops to just 0.374%. The playing table does not have a free place for the wager and gamblers should place it as they put the chips behind the pass line wager. You should position the bet after the establishment of the point.

Initially, it is wise to master this best strategy for craps and get more experienced and confident in your game. Then you can proceed further on and expand the craps betting strategy by including the come odds. This wager is similar to the one we described above but the difference is that gamblers make a bet before any other roll except the come out rolling. The subsequent roll is the come out one. Punters need to put their chips on the come line exactly before the making of the roll to initiate the come bets. Taking odds here is identical to the other wager we discussed and the same numbers apply. After the establishment of the point, you should toss the chips and announce “odds on the 5” or any other number, depending on the point. Then the dealer will put the chip to the particular point.

In the beginning, casino craps may seem quite challenging, and it may take some time to get experience in the game. However, you need to find and adopt the best craps strategy and this will dramatically enhance your skills and will boost your chances to win. Following the best craps betting system will give you an advantage over your opponents. Thus, your game will gradually become better, and you will get more confident and fruitful.

Understanding the Basics: The Best Strategy for Craps Can Be Quite Simple

What Is The Best Blackjack Betting Strategy

After you select a good casino, it is time to get familiar with the best strategy for Craps by honing your skills and playing demos. Adopting a certain playstyle will help you understand its strong and weak points, which, by extension, will deepen your knowledge of the core aspects. At first, it may seem intimidating, but we’ve made sure to explain everything in a manner that is easily understood. Also, a long-lasting and stable plan of action doesn’t need to be elaborate. Knowledge of a couple of basic bets is all that’s required to play successfully.

Here’s How the Pass Line Bet Works

The essential wager each Craps player should understand is the “pass line bet.” It serves as the base of many Craps betting strategies and is a great move on its own due to its low house edge of 1.41%.

You place it directly on the “Pass Line” before the initial roll (A.K.A. the come-out roll). Pro tip: the little puck on the table always shows “OFF” before the come-out roll. This stake rewards you with a 1:1 payout when the shooter rolls 7 or 11. It loses on a roll of 2, 3, or 12, which is known as “Craps out.”

If any other number is rolled, the puck is turned, so it shows “ON” and placed on the corresponding position at the top zone (the 4-5-six-8-nine-10 area). Once this “box point” is established, your only goal is to roll the number in question. If you do, you’ll win. If a 7 is rolled beforehand, you’ll lose.

Why Is “Don’t Pass” So Controversial?

In real-life tables, most people base their casino Craps strategy on the pass line stake or wager solely on it. This way, everyone wins or loses together, which creates the whole “community” experience. Since “don’t pass” is essentially the opposite bet, you might make some enemies if you choose it and celebrate loudly on the playing table. However, it’s a great wager when playing online or if you’re not affected by the superstitions of those around you.

Don’t pass wins even-money on a roll of 2 or 3, with the 12 being a “tie,” which preserves the casino’s advantage. Some venues bar the 2 instead of the 12. One of the simplest Craps betting strategy tips we can give you is to look at the dice combination on the “Don’t pass” betting area to confirm the situation.

Conversely, you will lose if a 7 or 11 is rolled. Once a point is established, you will win on a roll of 7 and lose if the point number appears before it. At this stage, you have the advantage, as there are more ways to land a 7 than any other dice combination. What’s great about “don’t pass” is that it has a slim house edge of 1.37%, which is even lower than that of the “pass line.”

Place Bets Are Simple

A good casino Craps strategy is to utilize place bets. This is done by putting money on any of the numbers in the 4-5-six-8-nine-10 area after the come-out roll. You’ll win if it’s rolled before a 7 and lose if the 7 appears first. No other numbers matter for place bets. Keep in mind that while place wagers resemble odds bets (we’ll cover them in a bit), they don’t pay the same amounts.If you’re playing in a real-life casino, put your chips on the “come” area, and ask the dealer to “place the 4” (or any of the other numbers). In online games, you need to click on the little space beneath the numbers.

What do place bets pay in Craps? Let’s take a look:

• 4 & 10 pay 9:5, so always stake in multiples of $5

• 5 & 9 pay 7:5, again, bet in increments of $5

• 6 & 8 pay 7:6, always stake in multiples of $6

The “Come” and “Don’t Come” Wagers: A Game within a Game

It’s possible to have great playing sessions by only utilizing the pass/don’t pass wagers. If you want to go for a more advanced Craps strategy, try to make things interesting with the come and don’t come stakes. Essentially, come works the same way as the pass line, while don’t come is identical to don’t pass. The only difference between them is that come and don’t come are placed after a point has been established in the come-out roll (the puck is “on”).

Let’s take an example and see if you can replicate it by using our demo:

1. Put $5 on the pass line and start rolling. Your task is to establish a point with a roll of 4/5/6/8/9/10. If you roll 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12, just place another pass line bet.

2. Once the puck switches to “ON,” this Craps betting strategy needs you to put $5 on “Come.” On your next roll, several things might happen. If a 7 appears, you’ll win the come bet but lose the pass line. You may also establish another point with the come bet. If 2, 3, or 12 appears, you’ll lose the come stake, but the initial pass line bet will be unaffected.

3. In essence, you can use come to stack up several points up top and cover some of your losses. For example, if you’ve established 5, 6, and 8 as points, you will win when the dice rolls one of these numbers. The weak point of this casino Craps strategy is that you’ll lose all of them when the dreaded 7 appears.

What happens if you establish a point with a come bet and the pass line wins? A new round will start, but your money will remain on the point until that number or a 7 resolves the outcome. Now, it’s time to dive into the best wagers offered by this game.

Odds Bets Are the Best in Gambling

If you need more motivation to start playing Craps, check out the odds bets. These wagers might slip past inexperienced players, as there’s no marked area that signalizes their existence. However, learning how to play them is essential, as they come with no house edge. These bets are often included in the best Craps strategy guides, as the casino won’t take a percentage off your winnings.

You can place odds bets on the pass line, don’t pass bar, come, and don’t come. Adding odds to the pass and come is known as “taking odds,” while “laying odds” is the term used when you use them with the don’t pass or don’t come. To keep things relatively simple, we’ll explain how to take odds with the pass line bet.

It’s important to note that certain online games don’t allow placing odds bets, and all casinos will limit the amount of money you can stake. The reason for this is that players can use a Craps betting strategy and a large bankroll to often turn a profit, which won’t keep the house in business for long. Typically, you’ll encounter the “3-4-5x” odds regulations. This means that you can bet:

• Up to x3 times the amount on your pass line bet for the 4 and 10 point numbers

• Up to x4 times for the 5 and 9 point numbers

• Up to x5 times for the 6 and 8 point numbers

Let’s take an example and play it out with the demo. To take odds on the pass line, bet $5 on it and wait for a point to be established. If this point is a 4 or 10, you’ll typically be able to stake up to $15 as an odds bet, but our demo gives more leeway. The best Craps betting strategy will tell you to max out the odds bet, but don’t feel obliged to, especially if your bankroll is small. The area where you need to put down the chips for an odds bet is right on the point number. The placement in other versions might be behind your initial wager or just outside the pass line.

If you win on a 4 or 10, you’ll be paid 1:1 on your $5 pass line bet. The odds bet pays 2:1 because there are six ways to roll a 7, and three ways to roll a 4/10. This leads to three rules that you must include in your Casino craps strategy to avoid getting rounded down:

• If the point is 6 & 8, bet in multiples of $5 because they pay 6:5

• If the point is 5 & 9, wager even amounts of money ($2, $4, $6, etc.) because they pay 6:4 (3:2)

• If the point is 4 & 10, you can use any chip, because the payout is 6:3 (2:1)

The only risk of the odds bet is that it gets wiped out with regular wagers. For example, rolling a 7 when you have pass line + odds stakes means that you’ll lose both. We’ve covered the best wagers in this game, so let’s move on to those you might want to avoid.

Field Bets: The Ultimate Inbetweeners

When it comes to field bets, Craps betting strategy tips will often seem confusing. Some people declare them as a bad move, while others say they can be viable. Before we share our opinion, let’s find out how field wagers work.

The area for placing them is called “Field” and contains the numbers 2-3-4-9-10-11-12. This is a one-roll bet, meaning that you will lose your stake if the above numbers don’t appear on the next roll. Usually, the 2 and 12 will be encircled, and a “pays double” sign will sit above them. If that’s the case, the house edge on this bet will be 5.56%, which isn’t too great.

If there’s a “pays triple” sign above the 2 or 12, the house advantage shrinks to 2.78%, which is much more palatable. If you’re curious, look for the advanced Craps strategy that uses field bets in our dedicated page for such systems.

A List of Wagers That You Never Want to Place

• Proposition bets — this is the big area that contains eight dice combinations. They do have large payouts, but the house edge on them is gigantic. The only scenario in which you might want to bet on them is if you’re willing to take a long shot when you have a few extra $1 chips.

• C-E — “C” stands for “Craps” (2, 3, 12) while “E” is for “Eleven.” These are also one-roll bets with bad odds, so any Craps betting strategy will tell you to skip them.

• The Big 6 & 8 — This area is nonsensical, so some tables won’t even feature it. It pays 1:1 for a winning 6 or 8. However, you can do a place bet on the 6 and 8 and get $7 for every $6 you stake.

Choosing a Trustworthy Online Casino

As we have mentioned initially, choosing a reliable online casino with a positive reputation is essential if you want to implement the best Craps strategy and play the dice-rolling classic and other online games successfully. These days, most online casinos are full of attractive titles such as Slots, Blackjack, Roulette, and Poker. Choosing a suitable and trustworthy venue can be challenging, but the task gets easier if you know what you are looking for.

Hopefully, the information we will provide will help you find the best casino that fits your way of playing and your individual preferences, and where you can implement the best craps strategy. Our guides and reviews will supply enough valuable data to make gambling safe and fruitful for you.

Cherry Jackpot: The majority of gamblers prefer betting at Cherry Jackpot, and the reasons for their choice are countless. The establishment offers over two hundred games, including casino craps and many others. The quality and the graphics are super, and allow punters to enjoy the betting experience thoroughly. This casino offers the huge bonus of £1500 under certain conditions.

Leo Vegas Casino: It attracts customers with over 600 quality games with great graphics. The casino provides a 200% bonus plus two hundred free spins.

RoxyPalace: This gambling establishment offers more than five hundred games and its incentive amounts to £350 alongside with a hundred free spins or £15-worth free play.

Why is it so crucial for gamblers to find a good and secure online establishment? Some punters tend not to pay attention to security and reputation as they are eager to log in and play. They assume that all virtual casinos are the same, and don’t bother checking if the place they’ve chosen is legal and reliable. This usually results in trouble when it comes to cash out, an issue that the best strategy for Craps won’t be able to resolve.

To choose a credible online gambling facility, you should take a close look at what the casino has to offer and if these features fit your needs. Individual preferences are often deciding, but there are minimum requirements that you shouldn’t ignore. Our experts have compiled a shortlist of the essential characteristics that a casino should offer to guarantee an enjoyable playing experience:

• The casino should be regulated and possess a valid license – look for an iGaming site that has a functioning permit from a reputable jurisdiction such as the UKGC, MGA, GGC, or others. Craps betting strategy tips only work on fair games. Another big plus is to see seals from independent testing agencies that audit the Random Number Generators of games.

• The online casino should have a balanced and modern entertainment portfolio – the list of featured games should include different genres such as Craps, Baccarat, Slots, Roulette, Blackjack, and anything else you might like. It is essential that the casino provides a balanced selection of games, but they should be of good quality, too.

• Transparent terms are a must – each reputable operator provides extensive and clear information about its bonuses and banking conditions. That way, players can easily establish if a deal is worth it and what methods they should use to deposit and cash out.

• A trusted internet casino would have reliable customer support and various contact options – the support team should be available at any time of the day. Reps might not know the best Craps strategy, but they should be able to assist you if the game bugs out, didn’t pay right, and on all banking/bonus/safety/general game questions you might have.

• Attractive bonuses for new players and regulars are always a plus – a generous promotional system is an indication that a casino values its new and existing players. Besides, everyone loves a fair shot at winning.

Develop the Best Craps Strategy by Choosing the Right System

There’s no such thing as a guaranteed method for winning in Craps or any other game of chance. Players may adopt certain systems, but each one has an inherent risk. Thus, we recommend that you view gambling as entertainment that costs money. Take any winnings as an addition to the fun, and never chase losses or spend cash that you can’t afford to lose.

Below, we’ll analyze the best Craps strategy for those on a low-to-medium budget. We’ll discuss its pros and cons, so you can determine if it’s a good match for you. If you want to browse more systems, feel free to check out our Craps Systems page.

A Low-Risk Approach for Players on a Budget

This plan of action utilizes the don’t pass bet in combination with place bets on the 6 and 8. The first step is to put $10 on don’t pass. As we mentioned earlier, you’ll win on a 2 or 3 and lose on 7 and 11, but that’s not the main goal. Once a point is established, follow it up by placing $6 on the 6, and $6 on the 8.

This is probably the best strategy for Craps if you want to protect your bankroll. After the come-out roll, the don’t pass bet will protect you against the 7, which is the most common dice combination. In the event of a 7, don’t pass will pay 1:1 ($10), and you’ll lose $12 from the other two bets for a total loss of $2. However, if there are frequent rolls of 6 and 8, you’ll make some decent winnings.

Another potential weakness is if the point is on 6 or 8. In this case, only one of these numbers will make you money. If you roll 6/8, you’re going to lose on the don’t pass (-$10) but win on the place bet for a total loss of $3.

This casino Craps strategy is great if you have $88-$220 to spend. If you’re in the green zone, it also offers some flexibility, like doubling down on the 6 and 8.

Ready to Roll the Dice?

If you’ve followed our tips and experimented with the free demo, you should have a good idea of what Craps is all about. From here, you might be wondering where to start playing for real money. Our website features reviews of verified online casinos that accept players from every corner of the globe. Make sure to check them out for the latest information regarding Craps, bonuses, banking, and other crucial features.

Those of you eager to find the best strategy for Craps are welcome to browse our dedicated strategy page. We’ve reviewed systems suitable for every budget, risk tolerance level, and playstyle, so we’re certain that you’ll discover something you’ll like. Good luck, shooter!

I’ve never read a blog post or an article about the game of craps or craps strategy that didn’t mention how exciting the game is.

Okay. Now that we have that out of the way.

The purpose of this post is to introduce you to the 10 most fundamental concepts in craps strategy. This is not a get rich quick scheme. I don’t have any systems to sell you.

My only interest is in helping you save money at the gambling tables and have fun while you’re doing it.

The truth is that craps is a negative expectation game. If you play long enough, you’ll eventually go broke.

But you can get more entertainment for your money if you understand some of the basics of craps strategy.

1- Start Your Craps Career by Sticking with the Most Easily Understood Bets on the Table

The basic bets in craps are the pass and don’t pass bets. These are bets on whether the shooter “succeeds” or not. These are also the best bets on the table. The house edge for each of those bets is, respectively, 1.41% and 1.36%.

Both those bets pay even money, which make them marginally less exciting than some of the other bets. But the payout isn’t what’s important for each bet. It’s the house edge.

That’s a mathematical estimate of how much of each bet you expect to lose on average over the long run. It’s always expressed as a percentage.

If you bet $100 on every roll of the dice and place the pass bet every time, the casino expects your losses to average $1.41 for every bet you place.

This is exceptionally low compared to most bets at most other casino games. In fact, it’s significantly better than most of the other bets at the craps table.

At an average craps table, you’ll see about 100 rolls of the dice per hour. If you lose $1.41 on average for each of them, you’ll see an hourly loss average out to $141.

That sounds awful until you compare it to other games like slot machines, which usually have a house edge of 7% or more, or roulette, which has a house edge of 5.26%.

Most of the time I recommend taking the bet with the lowest house edge, but in craps, I think it’s so much more fun to root for the shooter that it’s worth the 0.05% difference in house edge.

2- Continue Your Craps Career by Placing One of Only 2 Bets in the Casino with a House Edge of 0%

A bet with a house edge of 0% is a bet that will break even in the long run. I only know of 2 bets in the casino with a house edge of 0%:

• 1. The double up bet in video poker
• 2. The odds bet in craps

When you’ve made a pass or don’t pass bet in craps, you can place a 2^nd bet if and when the shooter sets a point. You win this 2^nd bet if the shooter succeeds if you placed a pass bet, and you win it if the shooter fails if you placed a don’t pass bet.

The tricky thing about the odds bet is that it isn’t labeled on the craps table. You place the bet by putting the additional chips behind your initial pass or don’t pass bet.

Since this bet has no house edge, it’s an opportunity to get more money into action without any real long-term risk.

Some writers combine the 2 bets together for purposes of illustrating the total house edge on the 2 bets combined. I don’t see much point in doing that.

I can tell you, though, that the best strategy decision you can make in craps is to take the biggest odds bet that you can, every time it’s available.

The odds bet is part of what causes the crazy streaks of luck in the game, but that’s also part of the charm of craps.

3- Stay Far Away from the Bets in the Center of the Table

Not every bet at the craps table offers good odds. In fact, most of the bets offer lousy odds. I mentioned earlier that you can measure how good a bet on a casino game is by how low the house edge is.

Let’s take a look at the house edge for some of the bets in the middle of the craps table:

The “any 7” bet pays off 4 to 1 if the shooter rolls any total of 7 on the next roll. The odds of winning that bet, though, are 5 to 1. The difference is the house edge.

• Assume you bet $100 on any 7 for 36 rolls. And also assume that you have a perfect distribution for those rolls.
• You’ll win that bet 6 times, but you’ll lose 30 times.
• With a 4 to 1 payout, you’ll win $400 X 6, or $2400.
• But you’ll have lost $100 X $30, or $3000.
• Your net loss is $600.
• Since you placed 36 bets, you can average the amount lost into the number of bets to get your average loss per bet. In this case, it’s $16.67, which is 16.67% of $100.

And that’s just one example.

The house edge on the various bets in the center of the craps table range from 2.78% to 16.67%. None of them are good bets.

Just stick with the pass and don’t pass bets. Skip all the sucker bets in the middle of the table.

4- Steer Clear of Betting Systems Where You Increase and Decrease the Size of Your Bet Based on Previous Outcomes

You’ll sometimes see craps “experts” suggesting that you use some variation of the Martingale System for craps. The Martingale is a betting system used with even money bets at table games. You double the size of your bet after each loss until you win.

SEEMS fool-proof. But it’s not.

Here’s an example of how it might work at the craps table:
You bet $5 (the minimum in this casino) on the pass line bet, and you lose. On your next bet, you bet $10. If you win this time, you’ll recoup your $5 loss on the previous bet and have a $5 profit to show for it.

But if you lose again, you double the size of your last bet again, this time, from $10 to $20. This recoups the $5 you lost and the $10 you lost, and you have a $5 profit.

You can continue this progression as long as your money holds out and as long as your bet stays beneath the table max.

The problem with the Martingale System is that doubling the size of your bets increases your bet size far faster than you’d expect. You might think it’s hard to lose the same bet 8 or 9 times in a row, but it happens more often than you think.

When it does, you see a devastating loss. In fact, that loss will be so devastating that you’ll lose all those tiny profits you made previously.

Here’s what 8 bets in a row look like if you start with $5:

• 1. $5
• 2. $10
• 3. $20
• 4. $40
• 5. $80
• 6. $160
• 7. $320
• 8. $640

A lot of craps tables with a $5 minimum have a $500 maximum bet. If you lose 7 times in a row, you break the system and can’t continue.

Also, if you lose 7 times in a row, you’ll have lost $635 already. To place a $640 bet at this point means you’ll have put $1275 in action over the course of 8 bets.

And if you win that final bet?

You’re only up $5 for the entire session.

Betting systems like the Martingale have no way of overcoming the house edge. They seem like a good idea in the short run, but in the long run, you’ll lose just as much money (or more) using this kind of betting system as you would if you just randomly varied the size of your bets.

5- Don’t Try to Hedge Your Bets Either

You’re hedging your bets when you place a bet intended to offset the losses from another bet.

An example might make it easier to understand:
You place a $10 bet on the pass line. You simultaneously bet $2 on the “any craps” bet. (The any craps bet wins if the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12.)

It’s impossible to lose with this bet. If the shooter rolls a 7 or an 11 on the come out roll, you win $10. Sure, you’ll lose the $2 any craps bet, but you’ll have a net win of $8.

If the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12 on the come out roll, you win $14 (7 to 1). Sure, you’ll have lost the $10 pass line bet, but you’ll have a net win of $4.

This seems like a no-brainer strategy. The problem is that it doesn’t account for when the shooter rolls a point.

How often does this happen?

• You have 36 possible outcomes in a come out roll.
• 4 of those possible outcomes are any craps. (1,1; 1,2; 2,1; 6,6).
• 8 of those possible outcomes win the pass line bet (1,6; 2,5; 3,4; 4,3; 5,2; 6,1; 5,6; 6,5).
• That’s 12 possible outcomes where you’re guaranteed a profit.
• But on the other 24 outcomes (2 out of 3 times), the shooter will set a point. In each of those cases, the “any craps” bet loses right out of the gate. You still face the house edge when the shooter tries to roll the point.

The hedge bet doesn’t change your odds of winning. It only looks that way.

Almost all craps betting systems involve raising and lowering your bets based on when you’re winning or losing. But they also often involve systems for hedging your bets.

Don’t bother unless you think it sounds like a fun way to place bets. Even then, the house edge on the any craps bet is higher than you should be willing to pay.

6- Play Craps for the Lowest Stakes that Remain Interesting for You

You can calculate how much an hour of gambling at a given game will cost (on average) by multiplying the house edge by the number of bets per hour. You multiply that by the average size of your bet to get your expected hourly loss.

In the short run, this number is meaningless. It’s just a long-term expectation, and your results will vary from that mathematical expectation. But the longer you play, the closer you’ll eventually come to seeing the mathematical expectation become a reality.

This means that in the long run, you’ll lose twice as much money betting $10 per roll as you would if you were betting $5 per roll. The bigger your bet size, the more expected loss is.

I have just as much fun at the craps table betting $5 as I do betting $10 or $20, but you might have more money than I do. (I am, after all, only a poor gambling blogger.)

Years ago, I read a great book called Poker Night by John Vorhaus. He wrote about how to choose the stakes for your poker game. If you’re playing for such low stakes that winning or losing doesn’t matter to you at all, poker is an exercise in boredom.

He suggest playing in a game based on your “gulp limit.” That’s the amount of money that would make you swallow really hard if you lost your wallet with that amount in it.

That’s the size of your starting bankroll—your gulp limit. You can back-calculate the stakes you want to play for by dividing that bankroll by 10 or 20.

If your gulp limit is $200, you should be playing for $10 or $20 per roll.

7- Find the Casinos Who Offer You the Biggest Odds Bet Multiples

Since the odds bet offsets the house edge on the pass line and don’t pass line bet in proportion to how much you wager on it, the more you bet on it, the better off you are. But casinos have a maximum bet size for the odds bet based on a multiple of your original pass or don’t pass bet.

If you’re betting $5 per roll, the most you can bet on the odds bet is $10. If you’re betting $1000 per roll (you high roller, you), you can bet $2000 on the odds bet.

You can find casinos in Las Vegas which allow you to take 10X or even 15X odds, but 2X is more common. You should look for casinos which offer bigger limits on the odds bet.

What Is The Best Craps Betting Strategy

Some casinos have 3x 4X 5X odds bet maximums. In these casinos, you can bet 3X your original bet if the point is 4 or 10, 4X your original bet if the point is 5 or 9, and 5X your original bet if the point is 6 or 8.

This is meant to simplify payouts for the craps dealers. Those bets pay off at 2 to 1, 3 to 2, and 6 to 5, respectively.

If you make the pass line bet with the maximum odds bet at a 3X 4X 5X table, the payout is always 7 to 1 on your total action. This makes it easier for the dealer.

Still, you’re better off finding a casino that allows you to bet more than that on the odds bet.

My suggestion for the best place to play craps in Las Vegas is the Casino Royale. It’s on the Strip, and it features some of the lowest betting minimums and highest possible odds bets in Las Vegas. You can bet $2 per roll of the dice in craps, and you can place an odds bet of up to 100X, or $200.

The cumulative house edge on a pass line bet taking maximum odds drops to just 0.02%. You won’t find a bet (or combination of bets) anywhere in any casino in the world with such a low house edge—unless you’re a card counter or an expert video poker player. (Those professions are outside the scope of this post, though—sorry.)

8- Consider Learning How to Set and Control the Dice

The idea behind dice setting and dice control is that a skilled shooter can affect the probability of getting a certain total on the dice. If skill comes into play when you’re rolling the dice, craps becomes a game more like darts than roulette.

I’m skeptical of this possibility, but I’ve seen gambling writers and experts I respect who lend the idea some credence. Even if it’s possible, I don’t think it’s practical for most gamblers to try this. Here’s why:

To be able to control the dice, you’d need to practice. You can’t practice for free in a casino, so you’d need to build or buy a casino-equivalent craps table to put in your garage or basement.

Then you’d need to practice for an insane number of repetitions to have any degree of statistical certainty that your skill is in fact affecting your outcomes. Anyone can look like they have skill by getting lucky on a dozen throws of the dice in a row. You’ll need to record your results until you have confidence in your statistical results.

That’s a lot of work for something you might turn out not to be good at. It’s also a lot of work on something that might not even be possible.

I don’t know of any casinos changing their rules or game conditions to combat dice setters. So I’m skeptical of how big a problem it is.

9- Try Playing Free Craps Games Online

I shouldn’t have to go into a lot of detail about this tip for it to make sense. If you’re playing craps without risking any money, you can’t lose any money. Online casinos offer play money games where you don’t risk a thing. At a lot of these casinos, you don’t even have to register an account.

10- See if You Can Find Some Buddies to Play “Street Craps” With

Street craps is the game played in an alleyway or someone’s house. You’ll see people playing street craps in a lot of old movies.

The most important difference between street craps and casino craps is the lack of betting options. In street craps, you only have the 2 betting options—pass and don’t pass. The rules for these bets work the same as they would if you were playing in a casino.

You’re just betting against the other players.

Conclusion

I can’t imagine a game in the casino more fun than craps. Luckily, it also offers some of the best odds in the casino—IF you place the right bets. Once you learn the basics of the game, it’s easy to do well at craps at least part of the time. Just stick with the bets which have a low house edge.

The rest of what you need to know about craps strategy can be boiled down to avoiding bad strategies. The bad bets at the craps table are awful. There’s never a reason to place a bet on something as silly as “hard eight,” even though PT Anderson made a great movie with that title.

Craps is a notoriously streaky game. This is good news and bad news. It means you can have big winning streaks. Sadly, it also means you can have fast losing streaks, too.

And the losing streaks are marginally more common than the winning streaks. That’s how a game with a negative expectation for the player works. Play long enough, and you’ll lose all your money.

But you can sure have some fun and walk away a winner from the craps table once in a while.