Biggest Mistakes Players Make at Craps Tables

Craps table at Grand Z casino in Central City, ColoradoCraps table

My son and I played craps twice last week. I don’t usually play the game. It was something fun to do with him since he is old enough to be in a casino now. 

He picked up the game quickly. We had a nice win followed by a loss in two sessions. During that time, I saw many players make mistakes that cost them money. 

Not taking odds on line bets

The casino we played craps at allows odds up to 10 times. Some players at the table took no odds at all. Many went just one or two times their bet in odds.

The pass line and come bet have a house edge of 1.41% when no odds are taken. It gets as low as 0.2% when taking the max odds at a craps table. Even if a player’s bankroll is not able to withstand the variance of taking full odds, it is important to take them up to a comfortable level for the best return.

Not betting enough for a free buy on 4 and 10

I saw many players placing the 4 and 10 for $10. This is a major mistake. This bet pays $18 if it wins. At $20, it pays $39. At $25, it pays $49. The player only pays $1 in juice on a 4 and 10 as the buy is generally free at $20 and higher.

If a casino requires the player to pay the $1 upfront, as opposed to the free buy only requiring juice when it wins, it is still much better. If your bankroll can’t handle $20 or $25 bets on both the 4 and 10, pick one of the numbers to make it work. 

Not moving place and buy bets to the odds on a come bet

I saw several players make this mistake. They would place a number and make a come bet. The number would come and they would win the place bet. The come bet moves to the number. At this casino, players can go up to 10 times odds. However, the players would generally just go double odds and leave the place bets there.

This is an example of how tipping dealers can get you good advice. Dealers often would remind the player or just move it. However, it is up to the player to make sure that happens. Players that do not do this end up giving up money to the house for no reason. Only make a place bet with a come bet if you have maxed out the odds and want to bet more. 

Betting the field when 12 only pays double

Most casinos only pay double on 12 on the field bet. The house edge on the bet is over 5% when that is the case. Many casinos, including ones in Las Vegas and Michigan, pay triple on 12 on the field. This cuts the house edge in half. 

Our Las Vegas Table Game Survey tells you which casinos in that market pay triple on the field. It has every table game and rule listed, as well as the minimum bets.  

Betting against yourself

I saw several players make ridiculous single-roll prop bets, especially on the come out roll. Some would make a whirl/world bet for $5. This puts $1 each on 2, 3, 7, 11 and 12. If a 7 is rolled, it pushes. The 2 and 12 pay $30. The 3 and 11 pay $15. The problem with this bet is that at best, four bets lose. Each winning bet has $4 removed from it.

I saw one player bet the hard 4 and 10, then pay 5% commission to lay the 4 and 10 for $21 to win $10. This bet wins if a 7 is rolled before the number. It loses if the number is rolled. If the player wins the hard way bet, the lay bet loses. If the 7 comes, the hardways lose. If 4 or 10 is rolled the easy way, both bets lose.

It was also a mistake to lay 4 or 10 for only $20. The juice would be the same to lay $51 to win $25 on no 4 or 10.

Betting the pass line after the point is established

I see this nearly every time I play craps. A player walks up to the table in the middle of a roll and wants to get into action. They make a pass line bet with the point already established. Don’t do this. Take that $10 and place the number with the dealer. You will need $12 or some other increment of 6 to bet the 6 or 8.

Big 6/Big 8

Some craps tables have a big 6 and big 8 bet. These bets pay even money if they win. Making a place bet with this money pays $7 for every $6 wagered.