• Odds Craps Bets. Now that you are familiar with the four most essential bets in the dice game, we will describe the other types of wagers, so that you will be able to establish your craps betting strategy. Odds wagers resemble side bets, and players make them after the establishment of a point in each game.
• Last night, a midweek Tuesday, Harrah’s was $25 minimum, except for the electronic craps table which was $10 with 3,4,5 odds). @Moises: I haven’t been to Orleans since the re-opening and do not know if they still offer a $5 table.
• These are the best and most popular craps odds bets. Their low house edge of 1.41% makes them perfect bet types. Here you are betting if the winner passes upon hitting a 2, 3, 12, or 7. Usually, this happens if it’s before determining a pointer at the table.
• The table has all other standard craps bets like the field, hardways and hop bets. Crapless craps table odds vary from one casino to another. The Strat offers 10 times odds. It is the best casino for crapless craps odds in Las Vegas. The odds at MGM Resorts properties is 3-4-5. The three covers 2, 3, 11 and 12. Harrah’s goes down to double.

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.

Betsoft and Playtech are the top two providers in terms of craps odds because they both allow up to 3x odds. These odds pale in comparison to what’s offered in the top Las Vegas craps games. But note that you can make smaller minimum bets online.

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

Here’s a rundown of all the various bets in craps…

(A) Pass Line

Craps Odds Explained

This is the basic bet that most players make, and it’s actually one of the bestbets on the layout, with a house edge of only 1.41%. Ifyou want an easy game then you can simply stick to this bet and ignore all the otherbets. (Though to get the best chances of winning, you should really learn the Free Odds bet too.)

(B) Field Bet

This wager good for ANY single roll of the dice at ANY time. The player wins evenmoney if a 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11 is rolled. On most tables a 2 pays double and 12 paystriple. The player loses if a 5, 6, 7, or 8 is thrown. The house edge is a modest2.77% — there are better and worse bets.

(C) Come Bet

A “virtual” Pass Line bet. It’s just like the Pass Line but can be made at any time,almost ALWAYS in the middle of a round when a point has already been established.

(D) Place Bets:

The Place Bet is basically an “on-demand Point”. The player is betting that thePlaced number will roll before a 7 rolls. This bet can be made at any time, butis usually made after a point number is already established. It’s paid as follows:

A “Buy” bet is the same as the place bet, only with a different payoff. When youBuy a point you pay a 5% commission and are paid true odds if the bet wins (2:1on the 4 and 10, 3:2 on the 5 and 9, and 6:5 on the 6 and 8). The house edge onBuy bets is 4.76%, making the Buy a better deal than thePlace bet on the 4 or 10, and a worse deal on any other numbers.

Craps Odds Bet Explained

Some casinos take the 5% commission only on a win In such cases the houseedge for Buying the 4 or 10 is only 1.67%.

(E) Proposition Bets:

These bets can be made on any roll of the dice.

The house edge on prop bets ranges between 11.1% and 16.67%. If your folly requires you to make prop bets thenyou should at least find a table layout with Downtown odds in order to reduce theridiculous House advantage, though even then it’s still throwing money away.

(F) Free Odds on the Pass Line:

After a point has been established, the player can increase a pass line bet by “takingodds”. Free Odds bets are paid according to the TRUE ODDS of the dice, meaning thatthese bets carry NO HOUSE EDGE, which is why they’re called”Free” Odds. This is the only bet in the casino where the odds aren’t against you.For any given amount of money that you intend to bet on Craps, you want the highestpercentage possible on the Free Odds. Herein lies the reasonwhy you should shop for a casino that offers 5X, 10X, 20X or 100X table odds!

The Free Odds bet is placed behind the pass line or original “Flat” bet. Each pointnumber pays different odds.

We have a whole separate article dedicated to the Free Oddsbet.

(G) Free Odds on Come Bets:

Odds on come bets can be made exactly the same way as odds on pass line bets, exceptthat the player hands the Odds bet to the dealer who will place it on the numberrolled and on TOP of the original Flat bet. Just like the regular Odds bet, theOdds on the Come Bet also carries no house edge.

(H) Don’t Pass Line:

This bet is the same as a pass line bet only in reverse. If the first roll is 7or 11, the player loses, 2 or 3 wins and 12 is a push or what is called a “Bar”(neither wins or loses). Most people bet the Pass instead of the Don’t Pass, soif you bet the Don’t you may be viewed as an enemy by the other players. The houseedge is 1.36%.

Don’t Come Bet:

Same as a Come bet only in reverse. Just as with the Don’t Pass Line, dealer willplace bet behind the Don’t Come number as it is rolled. If a 7 is rolled beforethe number the player wins. This player is betting with that a point number willNOT roll before a 7 does.

Hardways

These bets win if 4, 6, 8, or 10 are thrown in pairs as pictured on the table layout.They lose when the number rolls “Easy” (not in pairs or as pictured on the tablelayout) OR if a 7 rolls first.

Craps Odds Bets Explained