What are the payoffs at craps?

Hi, Frank,

I am learning to play craps and over the last few months I have followed advice given by you and others on "craps techniques." I still have trouble knowing what the pay-offs are for the various numbers and, since when I win, the dealers give me money which includes both my pass bet and my odds, I don't know what they paid for each.

Can you give me the rules that the casinos follow for say a $10 bet on the pass line and a $20 or $25 bet behind the line?

What would the payoffs be (pass line and then behind the line) for the various numbers?

Thank you for the advice in your articles for all the games.

Matt

Dear Matt:

Thanks for your letter. I'll be happy to give you the payouts for the Pass Line bet with odds. This will also cover the Come bets with odds as well since the work the same way.

A $10 Pass Line or Come bet will always pay even money. When you first place the bet if a 7 or 11 hits, you will win $10; if the 2, 3, or 12 hits, you will lose $10. Once the point or number is established, if you hit the number you win $10, and if the dreaded 7 shows, you lose $10. So on a win the casino will return $20 to you - your $10 win plus the $10 you wagered.

Now for the Odds bet. The casinos will pay these off at the true odds of the bet - which means the casinos have no edge on the bets. They are break even bets in the long run between the casinos and the players. Here are the payouts for the odds bets:

The 4 and 10 are paid at two dollars to one dollar wagered (the 7 can come up six times, the 4 or 10 comes up three times = two to one).

The 5 and 9 are paid at three dollars to two dollars wagered ( the 7 comes up six times, the 5 or 9 comes up four times = three to two).

The 6 and 8 are paid at six dollars for five dollars wagered (the 7 comes up six times, the 6 or 8 comes up five times = six to five).

Let's look at your betting now: You have a $10 Pass Line or Come Bet which is always paid off at $10.

Here we go:

The 4 or 10: $10 Pass Line or Come, plus $20 in odds. You are paid $10 for Pass Line and $40 for odds as the odds pay two to one. The casino will return $50 to you - the $10 on the Pass or Come and $40 on the Odds. Add to that the money you bet and the casino gives you an $80 return.

The 5 or 9: $10 Pass Line or Come, plus $20 in odds. You are paid $10 for the Pass Line or Come plus $30 in odds as the odds pay three to two. The casino will return $40 to you plus the $30 you bet for a total of $70.

The 6 or 8: $10 Pass Line or Come, plus $25 in odds (the casino let's you take $25 on this bet to make the pay out easier). You are paid $10 on the Pass Line or Come, plus $30 in odds as the odds pay six to five. The casino will return $40 to you plus the $35 you bet for a total of $75.

When you are first starting out at craps, it can get confusing. I hope this helped.

For your letter I am giving you a free month on my members only private web site at www.goldentouchcraps.com. There are over 5,000 members on this site and I think you will find the boards to be a lot of fun and educational.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete

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