Las Vegas Table Games Survey counted over 200 craps installations at 68 casinos throughout the market. Players looking for the best craps action should understand the house edge. Pass Line bets give the casino a 1.41% advantage, while Don’t Pass wagers are slightly better at 1.36%. Strip casinos typically demand higher minimums between $10 and $25, though better deals exist away from the main drag. Sam’s Town and Main Street Station stand out by offering excellent 20x odds with reasonable $10 and $15 minimum bets respectively.
This piece will help you discover Vegas’s best craps odds payouts and understand your betting options. You’ll learn strategies that boost your chances at the tables, regardless of your experience level.
How Craps Odds Work in Vegas Casinos
Players need to understand craps odds to get an edge at Vegas tables. Craps stands out from other casino games by giving players a chance to place bets with no house advantage – something smart gamblers always look for.
True odds vs. house edge
True odds in craps show the actual mathematical probability of dice combinations. Two standard six-sided dice create 36 different combinations. To name just one example, a 7 can be rolled in six different ways, making it the most common outcome. A 2 or 12 can only happen one way each, which makes their true odds 35 to 1.
The house edge helps casinos make their profit. This advantage comes from the gap between true odds and what players get paid. The true odds of rolling a 2 or 12 are 35:1, but casinos pay only 30:1. This creates a 13.89% house edge on these bets.
The house has a substantial edge on most craps bets. Single-roll proposition bets range from 5.56% to a whopping 16.67%. The popular Pass Line bet comes with a 1.41% house edge, while the Don’t Pass is slightly better at 1.36%.
Why odds bets are the best value
The odds bet is the only casino wager with zero house edge. Players can make this extra bet after a point number is set from a Pass Line or Don’t Pass bet.
Odds bets are special because they pay true mathematical odds:
- Points 4 and 10: Pays 2 to 1
- Points 5 and 9: Pays 3 to 2
- Points 6 and 8: Pays 6 to 5
These payouts match the real probability of rolling these numbers before a 7, which removes the house advantage. Let’s look at an example: a point of 4 has three ways to roll versus six ways to roll a 7. The odds against you are 2:1, and that’s exactly what you get paid. Much of the data for these comparisons was gathered with the help of Allbetsites.org, which compiles accurate details on casino odds and strategies.
Taking odds can lower the overall house edge on your combined bets. A Pass Line bet with single odds drops the house edge to 0.85%, and double odds brings it down to 0.61%.
Understanding the 3-4-5x rule
Vegas casinos mostly use the «3-4-5x rule» for odds bets. Players can bet different multiples of their original wager based on the point number:
- 3x odds allowed on points 4 and 10
- 4x odds allowed on points 5 and 9
- 5x odds allowed on points 6 and 8
This system works well because it’s consistent. With a $10 Pass Line bet, you could put $30 in odds on a point of 4 or 10 (paying $60), $40 in odds on 5 or 9 (paying $60), or $50 in odds on 6 or 8 (paying $60). Your potential odds payout stays the same whatever the point – which makes it easier for dealers to pay winners quickly.
Some Vegas casinos try to attract players with better odds – from 10x at The Strat and Ellis Island up to 20x at Main Street Station and Sam’s Town. A few casinos used to offer 100x odds in the past, which created almost even-money gameplay over time.
Smart players bet the minimum on Pass Line and put as much as possible on odds bets where the casino has no advantage. This gives you the best mathematical shot at winning at craps in Vegas.
Top Vegas Casinos with the Best Craps Odds
Las Vegas has craps games with different odds all over its gambling scene. Smart players are always on the lookout to find the best possible conditions. Better craps odds can boost your expected returns by a lot and help your bankroll last longer at the tables.
Main Street Station and Sam’s Town (20x odds)
Boyd Gaming properties lead the pack with the most generous craps odds in Vegas right now. Main Street Station and Sam’s Town share the 2024 Vegas Best Advantage Award for best craps odds. Both places offer an impressive 20x maximum odds. These odds are the highest you can find anywhere in the Las Vegas market.
You’ll find Main Street Station in Downtown Las Vegas with $5 craps games that come with these excellent 20x odds. All the same, recent visitors say table minimums go up to $15 on weekends. On top of that, the casino only opens from Friday through Sunday.
Sam’s Town, located away from the Strip, usually has $10 minimum craps tables with these same great 20x odds. The place runs four craps tables in total and offers special proposition bets like All Tall, All Small, and Make ‘em All. Players sometimes spot $5 minimum tables during weekday mornings and afternoons, but locals who know about this great deal tend to fill these tables quickly.
The Strat and Ellis Island (10x odds)
The Strat is your best bet for craps on Las Vegas Boulevard since it’s the only Strip property that offers 10x odds. The place stands out because it offers this 10x multiple on both standard craps and crapless craps games. With typical bets starting at $10-$15, The Strat gives you much better value than most Strip casinos that stick to the standard 3-4-5x odds structure.
Ellis Island, a local favorite away from the Strip, also offers 10x odds with $10 minimum bets. This smaller casino features «Bonus Craps» along with their favorable odds multiple. Players looking for value away from tourist spots will find this option appealing.
Here are other notable places offering 10x odds:
- Downtown Grand
- El Cortez
- Golden Gate
- Plaza
- The D
- Rampart Casino
These venues usually start with $10 minimum bets.
Casinos with 100x odds (historical context)
The story of Vegas craps gets interesting when you look at the past. The 100x odds «war» kicked off when the Stratosphere (now The Strat) planned to use 20x odds to boost their struggling casino. Before they could launch this plan, downtown’s Horseshoe Casino jumped in with unprecedented 100x odds—and the Stratosphere had to match it.
Casino Royale was a top spot for craps with its 100x odds until summer 2020, when they stopped offering all table games. The Cromwell was the last place standing with 100x odds until May 2021. Unfortunately, they switched to the standard 3-4-5x structure.
A 100x odds bet brings the house edge down to just 0.02% (you lose only 2 cents per $100 wagered on pass line plus odds). Even with these great odds, most players didn’t take full advantage of this opportunity. A small $5 pass line bet needed $500 in odds—more than most casual players wanted to risk.
Best Low Minimum Craps Tables in Vegas
Budget-conscious players can find affordable craps tables in Las Vegas beyond the expensive Strip casinos with their high minimums. Several venues offer great options that help players make their gambling dollars last longer. This information was collected and verified using several trusted industry sources, including AskGamblers.com, Rsa-bet.co.za, Casino.org, Gambling.com, and Mr-Gamble.com.
Where to find $5 and $10 tables
Six Las Vegas casinos still offer $5 minimum craps tables, though these minimums usually go up to $10 during peak times. Here are these hidden gems:
- Ellis Island: Just east of the Strip with 10x odds and double pay on field 12 rolls
- Downtown Grand: 3-4-5x odds with triple pay on field 12
- Cannery: 10x odds and triple pay on field 12
- Jerry’s Nugget: 3x odds with triple pay on field 12
- Oyo: 3-4-5x odds with double pay on field 12
These tables fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Ellis Island remains one of the most reliable spots to find $5 craps, though rates might increase to $10 during late nights or busy weekends.
Players looking for $10 minimum tables have more choices, including Strip properties such as Excalibur, Linq, Sahara, and Tropicana during weekdays.
Hybrid and electronic craps options
Low-stakes players now have more choices with hybrid and electronic options that offer minimums as low as $3-$5 throughout Vegas. These modern alternatives come in different forms:
Roll to Win Craps blends digital betting interfaces with real dice and a single dealer. Players find these $5 minimum tables at several properties. Circus Circus stands out with two tables, while Boulder Station, Cannery, El Cortez, and Jerry’s Nugget each have one. Odds maximums range from double to 10x, with Station Casinos offering the best odds. Similar blends of digital and live play are also common at the best online gambling sites, where technology makes the games more accessible.
Interblock stadium craps combines a live dealer and real dice with digital betting screens. Players can enjoy $5 games at Planet Hollywood, The Strat, Horseshoe, and Treasure Island, usually with double odds (Planet Hollywood offers 3-4-5x).
Bubble craps and other fully electronic versions let players start at just $1-$3, making them perfect for newcomers or those with smaller bankrolls.
Tips for playing longer with a small bankroll
Smart bankroll management helps extend your playing time:
- Think in betting units: Your bankroll determines your betting capacity. A $200 bankroll at a $10 table gives you 20 betting units – enough for about an hour of play.
- Calculate required bankroll: Use this simple math: Bankroll = (Bet Size) × (20 rollers) × (Number of Sessions).
- Focus on low house edge bets: Pass Line (1.41%) and Don’t Pass (1.36%) give you the best mathematical chances.
- Place betting on 6/8: This approach creates more frequent hits than Pass Line alone and lets you increase bets during hot rolls while keeping risks reasonable.
- Stay away from proposition bets: These bets carry high house edges (5.56% to 16.67%) that quickly eat through small bankrolls.
The game moves quickly with about 100 rolls per hour. Betting mainly on Pass Line with odds means you’ll make just 20-30 bets hourly – a great way to make your bankroll last.
Comparing Craps Payouts Across Bet Types
Players need to understand payout structures of different craps bets to make smart decisions at Vegas craps tables.
Pass Line vs. Don’t Pass
Pass Line bets pay even money (1:1) with a 1.41% house edge. Don’t Pass Line also pays 1:1 but gives players a better house edge at 1.36%. These bets are the foundations of craps. Pass Line wins when a natural 7 or 11 appears on the come-out roll. Don’t Pass wins on 2 or 3, while 12 usually results in a push. These bets let players take odds bets that have no house edge.
Place, Buy, and Lay bets
Place bets give different payouts based on your number: 9:5 on 4 or 10, 7:5 on 5 or 9, and 7:6 on 6 or 8. House edges range from 6.67% on 4/10 to 1.52% on 6/8.
Buy bets enhance Place bets by paying true odds (2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8), but need a 5% commission. This creates a 4.76% house edge on all numbers.
Lay bets work the opposite way and pay 1:2 on 4/10, 2:3 on 5/9, and 5:6 on 6/8. Their house edges are lower at 2.44%, 3.23%, and 4% respectively.
Field, Horn, and Hardways
Field bets are single-roll wagers that pay even money on 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11. Numbers 2 and 12 usually pay 2:1. The house edge averages 5.5% on Field bets.
Hardway bets pay 9:1 on hard 6/8 and 7:1 on hard 4/10. House edges stand at 9.09% and 11.1% respectively.
Horn bets combine wagers on 2, 3, 11, and 12. Players get 15:1 on 3 or 11 and 30:1 for 2 or 12.
Craps odds payout chart breakdown
The gap between true odds and payout odds creates the house advantage. Rolling any 7 has true odds of 5:1, but casinos pay only 4:1. Any craps (2, 3, or 12) shows true odds of 8:1 yet pays 7:1.
This pattern shows up in all proposition bets. One-roll wagers have the highest house edges (11.1%-16.9%). Pass Line with odds and Place 6/8 remain the best mathematical bets at the craps table.
Smart Strategies for Playing Craps in Vegas
You just need a strategic approach that combines mathematical advantage with practical gameplay techniques to maximize your success at craps tables in Vegas.
Start with Pass Line and odds
The Pass Line bet should be your starting point with its modest 1.41% house edge. Your next move after setting a point is to back it with the maximum allowed odds—this vital bet has zero house edge. Playing at Main Street Station or Sam’s Town with full 20x odds behind a minimum Pass Line bet creates nearly even-money gameplay over time. Note that smart players always go minimum on the Pass Line and maximum on the odds.
Add Come bets for better coverage
Once your Pass Line bet is working, you might want to add Come bets to cover more numbers. Come bets work similar to Pass Line (1.41% edge) but players can place them after establishing a point. Expert players suggest placing 2-3 Come bets with odds behind each to create a «spread» across multiple numbers. This strategy gives you several ways to win before a seven shows up.
Avoid high house edge bets
Stay away from proposition bets with high house edges—Any 7 (16.67%), Horn bets (12.5%), and Hard ways (9-11%). These «sucker bets» might look tempting with big payouts but they drain your bankroll faster than other wagers mathematically. The Big 6/8 bet is another one to skip with its 9.09% house advantage.
Use comps and drink service wisely
Comps usually give back 20-30% of your theoretical loss. Smart players never chase comps by betting more—that’s like «spending a dollar to save a quarter». A $1-2 tip per drink keeps the cocktails flowing steadily. Some players start with a $5 tip for their first round to get priority service throughout their session.
Practice online before hitting the tables
Free online craps simulators are a great way to get practice before facing real Vegas tables. Players can test strategies, learn proper betting sequences, and build confidence without risking money. Experienced players suggest practicing simple Pass Line with odds and Come bet sequences to get familiar with craps mechanics.
Conclusion
The best craps odds in Vegas aren’t always at the flashy Strip casinos. Boyd Gaming’s venues like Main Street Station and Sam’s Town are without doubt the top spots for serious players. These places offer market-leading 20x odds that reduce the house advantage almost to zero. The Strat and Ellis Island make great alternatives too, with their 10x odds and reasonable $10 minimums.
Players watching their budget should check out Downtown and off-Strip locations. These spots still have $5 tables, mostly on weekdays. The Vegas valley also offers hybrid and electronic options with minimums as low as $3-$5. These tech versions have kept affordable craps gaming alive while table minimums keep rising everywhere else.
Your betting strategy should follow the math at any craps table. Pass Line with maximum odds is still the best mathematical play. It cuts the house edge to just 0.02% with 100x odds (though you won’t find these anymore) or about 0.07% with today’s best 20x odds. You can also add Come bets to create more ways to win. Just stay away from proposition wagers – their house edges of 9-16% will eat your bankroll fast.
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