Gaming Guru

Are These Craps Bets Good?

Frank,

My wife and I have a new question. A local casino property in Eastern Washington State only allows 2X odds. They will allow 2.5 times odds on the 6 and 8 if you put out a six dollar pass line bet. They will allow 15 dollar odds. This goes up as your pass line bet increases. Is this a good bet? I tried to do the math to compute the edge but my math skills have failed me. They also allow a $13 Place bet on the 6 and 8 only. These seem to be good bets, but I wanted check with or someone at Golden Touch since you are the experts. What is your opinion?

All the best,
GP “Northwest Shooter”

Dear Northwest Shooter:

Being able to put $6 on a pass line bet and when a 6 or 8 is the point, then backing it with $15 in odds is a good deal...except the casino is taking more money from you since you are betting more on the pass line. The odds bet is a break even proposition so no matter how much you put in odds, the long-term expectation is zero. Now, the casino is going to make more money since you are also betting $6 on the other numbers when they are points. So as a $5 bettor, you have now become a bigger bettor with a potential for bigger losses.

If the $13 Place bet only pays $14 or $15, it is not a good deal; but if it pays $16, it is a good deal...but again you are now betting more money.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete