The Hot and Dangerous Fire Bet

8 March 2014

By Jerry Stickman

Hello Stickman,

The Fire bet on the craps table has such an enormous house advantage that I was wondering why casinos don't alter the payout to be more competitive. If the payout for all six numbers was increased to 2000 for 1 they would have more takers and still have a sizable advantage. Maybe they have enough suckers at 1000 for 1?

What is lowest number of rolls you have heard about in making the 6 number Fire bet?

The lady with the world record craps roll most assuredly made the six numbers. After the sixth number was hit and paid would they start again, or is it over? Assuming Borgata had the bet.

Also an experience I had on the craps table in Delaware. I couldn't help but think it was casino management policy to deliberately cheat the players. On three different occasions and three different dealers on the crew they (forgot) didn't pay my winning Any Craps bet on the come-out. Twice the same thing happened on my place bets.

The dealers didn't appear to be rookies and the "oh sorry" was the only reply after telling them of the mistake. The couple beside me, obviously neophytes at craps were drinking and partying. When the dealer didn't pay their winning place bet, but had paid mine, I told the player and he asked to be paid. No problem and "oh sorry"; but the look from the dealer at me could have frozen a hot iron.

Are my suspicions legit or just paranoia?

Dave


Hi Dave,

You are correct in saying the fire bet has an enormous house edge. You did not mention what the payoffs were for make four or five points, but there are a couple of common pay tables that are in use. One pays 25-for-1 for hitting four points, 250-for-1 for five points and 1,000-for-1 for hitting six points. This pay table has a 20 percent house edge. The other pays 10-to-1 for four points, 200-to-1 for five points and 2,000-to-1 for six points. This pay table has a 25 percent house edge.

The odds against making six different points before sevening out are better than 6,000 to one so the casinos could loosen the pay schedule and still make a good profit. But, you are most likely also correct in why they don’t improve the payoffs. There are plenty of suckers around willing to throw their money away on this bet. Don’t expect any changes to the fire bet anytime soon.

The absolute minimum number of rolls to make a six number fire bet is 12 rolls. I have not heard of anyone achieving this. The lowest I have heard (though I cannot verify this) is 19 rolls. This is quite a feat! Only seven numbers that were superfluous. There could very likely be better results than this, but why bother betting something that will cost you $2.50 for every $10 you wager?

I know of no casino that starts over once the six numbers have been completed. Things stay as they are until the shooter sevens out and then the fire bets are paid.

I am not very familiar with craps in Delaware and I have never played there. I would suspect, however, that what you (and others) experienced was most likely bored and/or disinterested dealers rather than a deliberate attempt to cheat players, although your comment about the dealer’s reaction to the drunk players makes me wonder. I have played craps in most of the states that allow the game.

When I play I always place a pass line bet for the crew. This usually causes them to take an interest in the game; usually, but not always. When I run into disinterested, bored or even rude dealers, I simply color up after my roll and do not return. If I do return, I make sure it is at a time when a different shift is working. If I get the same results, I walk and do not return.

All the best in your casino and life endeavors,