Craps Shooter Place Bets

Craps Check: Betting on any craps during the come out roll to hedge your pass line bet. Don't Come bet: A don't pass bet made after the point is established. Don't Pass bet: A bet that the shooter will not make his point. Double odds: An odds bet that is twice the size of the original pass/come bet. Some casinos offer higher odds. If the shooter makes the point after three wins, you would bet the hot craps table method. Place betting for a hot table Make two $6 place bets on the six and eight. Leave them working for the life of the roll.

Craps seems like a complicated game because there are so many terms and slang for different bets. Learning the lingo can help you understand the game.

  • 2-Way: Player betting one roll wager for himself AND the dealers.
  • 3-Way Craps: A bet made in units of 3 with one unit on 2, one unit on 3, and one unit on 12.
  • Aces: Betting that the next roll will be the total sum of 2. Also called Snake Eyes.
  • Any Craps: A bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, or 12.
  • Any Seven: A bet that the next roll will be 7.
  • Big Red: Another word for seven. Players will not use the world seven at the table.
  • Black: Dealer slang for $100 gaming chips which in most casinos are black.
  • Bones: Another name for dice.
  • Boxcars: Slang for the 12. Also called midnight.
  • Boxman: Table supervisor who sits between the dealers and opposite the stickman.
  • Box Numbers: These are the place bet numbers; 4-5-6-8-9-10.
  • Boys or The Boys: Slang for the Dealers.
  • Cold Dice: Expression used to describe the table when no one is making their point.
  • Color In: What you say when cashing out smaller valued chips for larger valued chips when leaving the craps table.
  • Come bet: A bet made after the point is established. It is exactly like a pass line bet.
  • Come out roll: The first roll of the dice to establish a point. ​
  • Comp: Complimentary or freebies provided to players based on their action.
  • Crap Numbers: The numbers 2,3 and 12.
  • Craps Check: Betting on any craps during the come out roll to hedge your pass line bet.
  • Don't Come bet: A don't pass bet made after the point is established.
  • Don't Pass bet: A bet that the shooter will not make his point.
  • Double odds: An odds bet that is twice the size of the original pass/come bet. Some casinos offer higher odds.
  • Eye in the Sky: Surveillance department or the cameras in the ceiling to watch the players and dealers.
  • Front Line: Another name for a pass line bet.
  • Garden: Slang for the field bet.
  • George: A player who is a good tipper.
  • Green: Dealer slang for $25 gaming chips which in most casinos are green.
  • Hard Way: A bet on 4, 6, 8, or 10 that wins only if the dice roll as pairs; 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5.
  • Hi-Lo: A one roll bet on 2 & 12
  • Hi-Lo-Yo: A one roll bet on 2,12 & 11.
  • Hop bet: A bet that the next roll will result in one particular combination of the dice, such as; 3-5. 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 etc.
  • Horn bet: A bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, 11, or 12, made in multiples of 4, with one unit on each of the numbers.
  • Horn High bet: A bet made in multiples of 5 with one unit on 3 of the horn numbers, and two units on the 'high' number (number 12).
  • Hot Dice or Hot Table: When players are winning or a player is rolling a lot of numbers.
  • Inside Numbers: Place bets on the numbers 5-6 -8-9
  • Lay bet: A bet that a 7 will be rolled before the number you are placing (4,5,6,8,9, or 10) comes up.
  • Lay-Out: The printed area on the felt where wagers can be placed.
  • Lay Odds: After a point has been established an additional odds bet can be made that will win if the original don't pass bet wins.
  • Little Joe: Slang for a pair of twos or Hard 4.
  • Marker: The plastic disk used to mark the point. One side is printed “on” and the other “off”.
  • Mark the Point: The dealer puts the Puck on the layout to indicate the point number.
  • Midnight: Slang for the 12. Also called box cars.
  • Natural: A seven or 11 thrown on the come out roll for a winning bet.
  • One Roll Bet: A bet in craps that is one or lost in a single roll. ​
  • Odds Bet: An additional wager made in addition to the pass line bet.
  • Off: What you say to indicate that they are not active on the next roll of the dice.
  • Off and On: Refers to the way that Dealers pays off COME BETS when a new come bet is the same number as one already established.
  • On: This means that your bets are working or in action.
  • Outside Numbers: Place bets on the 4-10 –5-9.
  • Parlay: Adding your winnings to an original bet and wagering it all. ​
  • Pass Line Bet: A wager made on the come out roll in which you are betting that the shooter will make the point.
  • Place bet: A bet that a particular number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) will be rolled before a 7 is rolled.
  • Point: The number established by the come out roll.
  • Proposition Bet: A wager on one of the bets in the center of the layout.
  • Right Better: A player with a bet on the pass line.
  • Rack: The grooved rail where you keep your chips.
  • Seven Out: Expression when a shooter rolls a seven before making their point thus losing the pass line bet.
  • Shooter: The player rolling the dice.
  • Snake Eyes: Slang for the number 2. Also called aces.
  • Stickman: The dealer with the stick that pushed the dice to the shooter and calls the rolls.
  • Toke: Another word for a tip.
  • World Bet: A bet on the horn numbers along with any seven. (2-3-11-12)
  • Wrong Bettor: A player betting against the shooter.
  • Yo or Yo-leven: The word used for rolling an eleven so as to not confuse it with “seven.”

Fire Bet

The Fire Bet pays based on how many unique points a shooter can make before sevening out. Please see my page on the Fire Bet for the rules rules and analysis.

Different Doubles

The Different Doubles pays based on the number of distinct doubles the shooter rolls before a seven. Please see my page on the Different Doubles for the rules rules and analysis.

Ride the Line

Details about this side bet can be found in my Ride the Line page.

Muggsy's Corner

This is a simple side bet that wins if the come out roll is a seven or a 'point-7' (point established and seven on the next roll). For the full rules and analysis, please see my page on Muggsy's Corner.

Craps Shooter Place Bets

Hard Rockin' Dice

This set of three side bets, originally called the Hot Hand, can be found at the Hard Rock Cincinnati. They if various sets of totals are rolled before a seven. Please see my page on Hard Rockin' Dice for more information.

Low Dice, High Dice

Shooter

This pair of bets are based on the total of the dice in one throw. The 'Low Dice' bet pays 1 to 1 on totals of 3 to 6 and 5 to 1 on a total of 2. The 'High Dice' pays 1 to 1 on totals of 8 to 11 and 5 to 1 on a total of 12. The following return table on the Low Dice bet shows the house edge is 5.56%. The High Dice bet is the opposite so has the same house edge.

Low Bet

TotalCombinationsProbabilityPaysReturn
210.02777850.138889
3 to 6140.38888910.388889
7 to 12210.583333-1-0.583333
Total361-0.055556

Card Craps

In some jurisdictions, namely California, dice alone may not determine the outcome of a bet. In the game of 'Card Craps' 24-card decks are used each consisting of ranks ace to six in all four suits. Two cards are drawn to simulate the roll of the dice. If the suits are different the 'roll' stands. If the suits are the same, then the roll is ignored for all craps bets. The odds on all craps bets are the same as if dice were used.

However, there is an extra bet called the 'No Call.' This bet pays 3 to 1 if the two cards are suited, otherwise it loses. The house edge depends on the number of 24-card decks used as shown below.

Card Craps - No Call Bet

DecksProbabilityHouse Edge
10.21739113.0435%
20.2340436.383%
30.2394374.2254%
40.2421053.1579%
50.2436972.521%
60.2447552.0979%
70.2455091.7964%
80.2460731.5707%
90.2465121.3953%
100.2468621.2552%
110.2471481.1407%
120.2473871.0453%
130.2475880.9646%
140.2477610.8955%
150.2479110.8357%
160.2480420.7833%

Midway Bet

The Showboat in Atlantic City I'm told has a Midway bet in the normal location of the Big 6 and Big 8 on a total of 6 to 8 in the next roll. A hard 6 or 8 pay 2 to 1, and all other totals of 6 to 8 pay 1 to 1. The following table shows the house edge is 5.56%.

Midway Bet

Craps across bets
TotalCombinationsProbabilityPaysReturn
Hard 6,820.05555620.111111
Soft 6,880.22222210.222222
760.16666710.166667
All other200.555556-1-0.555556
Total361-0.055556

Bonus Craps (Small, Tall, & All)

Bonus Craps is a set of three side bets, the Small, Tall, and All. For all the details, please visit my Bonus Craps page.

Four Rolls no Seven

I hear that Sam's Town in both Las Vegas and Shreveport offer this bet. The bet wins if the shooter can go four throws without rolling a seven. A win pays 1 to 1. The odds are as follows.

Four Rolls no Seven

EventPaysProbabilityReturn
Win10.4822530.482253
Loss-10.517747-0.517747
Total1-0.035494

Golden Dice Challenge

The 'Golden Dice Challenge' is a craps side bet found at the MGM Grand in Detroit. The bet pays according to the number of pass line wins the player has before a seven-out. For purposes of the side bet, a win may be made either by rolling a 7 or 11 on the come out roll, or making a point. Rolling a 2, 3, or 12 on the come out roll does not affect the bet. There is a maximum win of $5,000.

The following return table shows the pays, probabilities, and return from each event, based on a $1 bet.

Golden Dice Challenge Return Table for $1 Bet

EventPaysProbabilityReturn
20 or more5000 to 10.0000080.037819
17 to 192000 to 10.0000370.07358
15 to 161000 to 10.00010.099877
13 to 14100 to 10.0003250.032478
11 to 1250 to 10.0010560.052806
9 to 1025 to 10.0034340.085858
7 to 810 to 10.0111680.111678
5 to 65 to 10.0363160.181578
0 to 4Loss0.947557-0.947557
Total1-0.271883

Assuming the maximum win is $5000 the following is the house edge for various bet amounts.

Golden Dice Challenge House Edge by Amout Bet

BetHouse Edge
$10049.22%
$5046.87%
$2545.43%
$1041.10%
$533.89%
$432.78%
$330.94%
$229.08%
$127.19%

7 Point 7

7 Point 7 is a craps side bet, which debuted at the Orleans casino in Las Vegas, in late 2008. I have also seen it at the Hard Rock in Macau under the name 'Double Trip Seven.' The bet wins if the player gets a seven on the come out roll, or the dreaded 'point 7,' where the player sevens out on his second roll. The following table shows a house edge of 5.56%.

7 Point 7 Return Table

EventPaysProbabilityReturn
7 on come out roll20.1666670.333333
Point 730.1111110.333333
Loser-10.722222-0.722222
Total1-0.055556

Sharp Shooter

The 'Sharp Shooter' is a side bet in craps spotted at the Hooters casino in Las Vegas in March, 2009. I hear it was removed in 2014.

The bet is made when a new shooter takes the dice, and pays according to how many times he makes a point. The following table shows what each number of points made pays and the probability. Pays have been converted to a 'to one' basis, to be consistent with the rest of this page. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 21.87%.

Sharp Shooter — Return Table

EventPaysProbabilityReturn
10 or more2990.0001220.03644
91990.0001780.035474
8990.0004390.043461
7490.0010810.052975
6290.0026620.077212
5190.0065570.12458
490.0161480.145328
350.0397660.198831
2 or less-10.933047-0.933047
Total1-0.218744

Double Trip Seven

I noticed this bet at the City of Dreams in Macau in August 2009. It is the same thing as the7 Point 7 bet aleady described.

Point Seven

I saw this side bet at the 2009 Global Gaming Expo, and in June 2010 at the Las Vegas Hilton. It is licensed by Casino Gaming LLC. It is a side wager made on the come out roll. If the player rolls a point, and then a seven on the second roll, the bet pays 7 to 1. All other outcomes lose. The following table shows the house edge is 11.11%.

Point Seven

EventPaysProbabilityReturn
Win70.1111110.777778
Loss-10.888889-0.888889
Total1-0.111111

Replay

Replay is a craps side bet I spotted at the Boulder Station on September 16, 2010. It pays if the shooter makes the same point at least 3 times before sevening out. For my full analysis, please see my page on the Replay side bet.

Twice as Nice

Twice as Nice is a side bet that has been seen at an unknown casino in Biloxi. It wins if the shooter throws any specific pair, including a total of 2 and 12, twice before a seven. For example, rolling a hard 10 twice before a 7. Wins pay 6 to 1. The following table shows a house edge of 29.40%.

Twice as Nice

EventPaysProbabilityReturn
Win60.1008630.605178
Loss-10.899137-0.899137
Total1-0.293959

A win of 7 to 1 would have a house edge of 19.31%, and 8 to 1 would be 9.22%.

Pete and Repeat

Pete and Repeat has also been seen at the same mystery casino in Biloxi. It wins if any total is rolled twice before a 7. Wins pay even money. The following table shows a house edge of 5.79%.

Pete and Repeat

EventPaysProbabilityReturn
Win10.4710660.471066
Loss-10.528934-0.528934
Total1-0.057868

Double D

In April 2012 I heard this side bet was being offered at the Harrington Raceway casino in Harrington, Delaware. It pays if the shooter makes at least four unique doubles before he sevens out. Come out rolls do not count. The following table shows all the possible outcomes, what they pay (on a 'to one' basis), the probability, and return. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 14.71%.

Double D

Unique
Doubles
PaysProbabilityReturn
62500.0010830.270633
5500.0064940.324683
4100.0227280.227282
0 to 3-10.969696-0.969696
Total1.000000-0.147097

Broad Bar 12

In April 2012 I heard this side bet was being offered at the Harrington Raceway casino in Harrington, Delaware. It acts like a place bet, winning on any double except 6-6, and losing on seven. The following return table shows the a house edge of 1.52%, per bet resolved.

Broad Bar 12 — Not Counting Pushes

EventPaysCombinationsProbabilityReturn
Double, except 6-61.16666750.4545450.530303
Seven-160.545455-0.545455
Total111.000000-0.015152

Hot Roller

On December 27, 2013, a member of my Wizard of Vegas forum posted about seeing this side bet at the Dover Downs casino in Delaware. It pays based on how many 'completed points' the shooter gets before rolling a seven. The shooter completes a point when he rolls it in all possible ways. For example, to complete a point of eight the shooter would need to roll a 2+6, 3+5, and 4+4. Following are the complete rules.

  1. The bet may be made only on a come out roll.
  2. The bet will be resolved when the shooter rolls a seven.
  3. The bet pays according to how many 'completed points' the shooter achieves.
  4. To complete a point, the shooter must roll the given total all possible ways. The following list shows all the ways to roll each total.
    • 4: 1+3, 2+2
    • 5: 1+4, 2+3
    • 6: 1+5, 2+4, 3+3
    • 8: 2+6, 3+5, 4+4
    • 9: 3+6, 4+5
    • 10: 4+6, 5+5
  5. The player must complete at least two points to win. The following table shows how much each number of completed points pays.

Hot Roller Pay Table

Completed
Points
Pays
6200 to 1
550 to 1
420 to 1
310 to 1
25 to 1
0 or 1Loss

The following table shows the probability and contribution to the return for all possible outcomes. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 7.50%. There are certainly much worse things you could bet on in craps.

Hot Roller Return Table

Completed
Points
PaysProbabilityReturn
62000.0004120.082441
5500.0022190.110968
4200.0075280.150567
3100.0211930.211934
250.0562870.281435
0 or 1-10.912360-0.912360
Total1.000000-0.075013

My methodology was a random simulation of 28 billion resolved bets.

Repeater

Repeater is a set of craps side bets I noticed at the Suncoast casino in Las Vegas on April 6, 2015. The idea is that the player must roll a given number a specified number of times before a seven. For bets on 2 to 6, the player must roll that total the same number of times as the total itself. For example, for the bet on the number five to win, the shooter must roll 5 fives before a seven. For totals of 8 to 12, the player must roll the total 14 less whatever the total is. For example, on a total of 11, the player must roll an eleven 14-11=3 times before a seven.

The following is what each specific bet pays:
  • 2: 40 for 1
  • 3: 50 for 1
  • 4: 65 for 1
  • 5: 80 for 1
  • 6: 90 for 1
  • 8: 90 for 1
  • 9: 80 for 1
  • 10: 65 for 1
  • 11: 50 for 1
  • 12: 40 for 1

The following table shows the probability of winning and house edge of each bet.

Repeater — Suncoast Rules

BetPays
(for 1)
ProbabilityHouse
Edge
2400.0204080.183673
3500.0156250.218750
4650.0123460.197531
5800.0102400.180800
6900.0088200.206209
8900.0088200.206209
9800.0102400.180800
10650.0123460.197531
11500.0156250.218750
12400.0204080.183673

At Caesars Palace I noticed they added a 'Dealer Envy' win to the same Suncoast pay table above. The following table shows the return to the player, the dealer, and the total.

Repeater — Caesars Palace Dealer Envy Rules

Dice
Total
Number
Needed
Player
Win
Dealer
Envy
Player
Return
Dealer
Return
Total
Return
2240281.63%4.08%85.71%
3350378.13%4.69%82.81%
4465480.25%4.94%85.19%
5580581.92%5.12%87.04%
6690679.38%5.29%84.67%
8690679.38%5.29%84.67%
9580581.92%5.12%87.04%
10465480.25%4.94%85.19%
11350378.13%4.69%82.81%
12240281.63%4.08%85.71%

It should be noted that the player can achieve the same thing by parlaying place/buy bets. Here is the same chart for the better of place and buy bets. This assumes a buy bet on the 4 with commission on a win only (effective odds of 59 for 20), place bet on the 5 paying 7 to 5, and place bet on the 6 paying 7 to 6.

Craps Center Bets

Place/Buy Parlay Strategy

BetPays
(for 1)
ProbabilityHouse
Edge
475.730.0123460.065018
579.630.0102400.184627
6103.460.0088200.087534

Note how the house edge is lower on the 4 and 6 making place/buy bets, but greater on the 5.

Craps Across Bets

According to the patent application for the Repeater Bets there are some other variants, as follows:

  • Variant 1: Come out rolls don't count. In this version, the player can only lose on a 'seven out' but any numbers rolled on a come out roll don't help either. The patent application doesn't specifically say that other numbers on a come out roll don't help, but it is implied by saying that the casino may choose to let the player turn the repeater bets on and off on a come out roll. Why would any player turn them off if the player could only advance on a come out roll and not lose?
  • Variant 2: The player may also bet on a 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12. The win and number of rolls required are the same as the mirror image number below seven. For example, a player must roll 6 eights on the eight bet, which pays 90 for 1.
  • Variant 3: The player may also bet on a 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12. However, unlike variant 2, the player must still achieve the given number that many times to win. For example, for a bet on eight, the shooter must roll 8 eights before a seven to win. The odds under this variant are shown below.

Repeater — 'Variant 3' rules

BetPays
(for 1)
ProbabilityHouse
Edge
2400.0204081632650.183673
3500.0156250000000.218750
4650.0123456790120.197531
5800.0102400000000.180800
6900.0088199051570.206209
84000.0018222944540.271082
92,5000.0002621440000.344640
1025,0000.0000169350880.576623
11100,0000.0000002384190.976158
1250,000,0000.0000000000720.996388

Under 7, Over 7

The over and under 7 are a pair of side bets I noticed at the New York, New York on January 6, 2017. You can find them where the Big 6 and 8 bets used to be. Both bets pay even money bets and win if the next roll is over/under a 7. So, a total of 7 causes both to lose. The probability of winning is 15/36=41.67% and the house edge is 16.67% (ouch!).

Hard Way Place Bets


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Craps Shooter Place Bets Game

On May 30, 2017 I noticed place bets on the hard ways on the craps tables at the Orleans casino in Las Vegas. These would win if the specified hard way, for example 5-5, where rolled before a total of seven. Each bet pays 5 to 1.

The following return table shows a house edge of 14.29%, ignoring rolls that neither win nor lose.

Hard Way Place Bets

BetPaysCombinationsProbabilityReturn
Win510.1428570.714286
Loss-160.857143-0.857143
Total71.000000-0.142857

Internal Links

Craps Shooter Place Bets Online

  • 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.

External Links

  • Las Vegas craps survey — The max odds bet allowed at each casino.

Written by: Michael Shackleford