A unique craps game is dealt at most Las Vegas Strip casinos, as well as in a few regional gaming markets. It is called crapless craps, sometimes called never ever craps.
Crapless craps originated at Bob Stupak’s Vegas World. That property is now known as The Strat. In 2019, it was the only casino in Las Vegas that dealt the game. It is now at about 15 Las Vegas casinos.
Every casino that deals crapless craps still deals the traditional version. However, if there is only one dice table open, it may be the crapless craps one.
What makes crapless craps different from craps
The most noticeable difference at a crapless craps table, when compared to the traditional version of the game, is that there are no don’t pass or don’t come bets. This is because this type of bet would return over 100% at crapless craps.
The pass line bet cannot lose on the come out roll. It wins on a 7. Any other come out roll becomes the point. This includes the 2, 3, 11 and 12. If a player rolls any number other than a 7 when coming out, that number must be made again before a 7 is rolled.
The come bet works the same. If the player rolls anything other than a 7, the come bet goes up to that number and must be made before a 7 is rolled. The come bet wins if a 7 is called.
Crapless craps house edge
The house edge for the pass line in crapless craps is 5.38%, according to the Wizard of Odds. A typical craps game has a 1.41% house edge on the pass line. These numbers do not account for the odds that may be placed behind the line.
A typical 3-4-5 times crapless craps game will hold 1-1.5% on the pass line when full odds are taken, depending on the number. A 3-4-5 times standard craps game would have a house edge that is about one-third that of a crapless craps table with identical odds.
Most Las Vegas crapless craps tables offer 3-4-5 times odds. At Caesars properties, there are only single odds on the 2 and 12 and double odds on the 3 and 11. The other 3-4-5 times crapless craps games permit a player to bet triple odds on the 2, 3, 11 and 12.
The Strat at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip offers crapless craps with 10 times odds. We also found 10 times crapless craps at JACK Cleveland and Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati.
Related: In an earlier article, we covered some mistakes players make at craps tables. It is part of a casino game strategy series.
There are good bets on a crapless craps table
There are four bets on a crapless craps table that are not found on a traditional one. Players may buy a $25 2, 3, 11 or 12 in the same way a 4 and 10 are bought on a normal craps table. The player bets $20 or $25 and pays $1 in juice if the bet wins. At $25, this bet is around 0.5% for 2 and 12 and 1% for 3 and 11.
Make sure not to place these bets. Wagers under $20 have a house edge of 6-7%. All other place and buy bets have the same house edge as the traditional game. Crapless craps offers identical prop and hardway bets as the normal dice game.
