I avoided craps for years. Then I tried it online, and things clicked. Once I stripped the game down, I saw something clear: most craps bets suck. But a few are actually solid. Now I stick to these, and I’ll walk you through them, one by one.
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Most Craps Bets Are Trash (Yes, Really)
Ever seen the “Any 7” bet? Pays 4:1. Sounds good? It shouldn’t. The house edge is close to 17%. You’re almost guaranteed to bleed chips fast.
Same with the “Field” bets. They pay fast but eat your balance even faster.
My first online craps session ended with me $50 down in 15 minutes – all thanks to side bets that looked “fun.”
The Pass Line: My Default Start
This is the bet most beginners are told to play, and it actually works. You bet that the shooter will win. Hit 7 or 11 on the first roll? Easy win. Land on 2, 3, or 12? You’re toast. Anything else becomes the point, and you’re chasing that number before a 7 ruins it.
The house edge here is 1.41%, which is way better than most casino games. I always start here unless I’m joining in the middle of a round.
Don’t Pass Line: My Cold-Table Weapon
This one works the opposite way of the Pass Line. You’re hoping the shooter messes up. The house edge is slightly lower – 1.36%.
I use this when I feel like the table’s going cold, or if I’m coming in late and want to avoid jumping on a bet mid-round. You’ll win when others lose, so it’s not popular.
Odds Bets: The Only Truly Fair Bet
Once a point is set, you can place an extra bet behind your Pass or Don’t Pass bet. This one has zero house edge. That’s right – zero. Casinos still profit because most people skip this one or don’t bet enough on it.
What I do: I always max out the odds I can afford. If the table allows 3x or 5x odds, I go for it. It makes a huge difference in payouts when the point hits.
Tip: You can only place this after the come-out roll and only if you made a line bet. So don’t miss your chance.
Place Bets on 6 and 8: My Side Hustle
Craps lets you bet directly on certain numbers. These are called Place bets.
Most of them are bad value, but 6 and 8 are different. They come up often – next to 7, they’re the most rolled numbers. And they pay out at decent odds (7:6). The house edge is around 1.5%, which is solid.
I usually throw a few euros here while waiting for my point to hit. Skip the others like 4 or 10 – they look tempting, but they just don’t land often enough. I’d rather put that cash toward trying something else on the side, like checking out a few sg slot games when the table’s cold. No harm in mixing things up for a few spins while you wait.
Bets I Avoid Like the Plague
Now, here are the ones I never touch:
- Big 6 and Big 8: Same bet as Place 6/8, but worse payout. Makes zero sense to play them.
- Hardways: You’re betting on pairs like 2+2 or 3+3. They almost never hit. And when they do, you feel lucky, not smart.
- Proposition bets: All that center-table mess? Flashy names and awful odds. Some of these have over 10% edge. That’s robbery.
Here’s My Simple Craps Routine
If you want to copy my approach, it’s easy:
- Bet on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass.
- When a point is set, place the maximum Odds bet.
- Add Place bets on 6 and 8 if you’ve got a bit more to play with.
- Avoid everything else like it’s on fire.
Why Online Craps Is My Favorite Now
Before online play, I never touched craps. The casino table felt too intimidating.
Online? Totally different. No rush, no one is shouting, and no dealer is trying to move things along.
I can slow down, stick to my bets, and track what’s going on. This helped me enjoy the game more and lose less.
Plus, online tables usually let you bet lower amounts, so you can practice without killing your balance.
Strip It Down, Play It Smart
Once I ditched all that noise and focused on a few solid bets, the game started making sense. Pass Line. Don’t Pass. Odds. 6 and 8. That’s it.
If craps has felt confusing or costly, try my method for a few rounds. You’ll still have fun, but you’ll also stand a chance.
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