Written by casino gambling expert John Grochowski, this blog post delves into the inner workings of a craps lay bet. It explains how players can leverage using a lay bet craps strategy to bet against the shooter, potentially profiting from a lower house edge.
The article includes insights into the odds of winning, the impact of casino commission rules, and how online platforms may offer more favorable conditions for implementing a lay bet craps strategy.
DON'T PASS AND DON’T COME VS. LAY BETS
In a live casino, when craps players bet against the shooter in a live casino, the most common craps strategy is to play don’t pass and don’t come.
Backing those bets by laying the free odds cuts the house edge to the bone for “Dark Side” or “wrong bettor” – as the majority who bet with the shooter refer to don’t players.
But what if you’re a dark sider craps player who wants to choose the numbers you’re betting against? Also, what if you don’t want to wait for the shooter to establish a point on the comeout roll, as you do on don’t pass and don’t come as well as on pass and come?
Don’t bettors can choose their number with lay bets. Craps lay bets are the opposite of place bets for the “right” bettors who bet with the shooter.
WHAT IS A LAY BET IN CRAPS?
Before the explanation, one aside: Don’t let the “Dark Side Craps” and “Wrong Craps” nicknames get to you. Yes, there are wrong bets in craps, but there’s nothing wrong with betting the shooter will roll a 7 before the number that would win for “right” bettors.
The house edge is even slightly lower at 1.36 percent on don’t pass/don’t come than the 1.41 percent on pass/come.
If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics blackjack strategy and blackjack side bets.
LAY BET CRAPS STRATEGY
There are six craps lay bets available to dark siders. You can lay the 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. Those are the same numbers that become points if the shooter rolls them on the comeout, and the same numbers available to right bettors as place bets.
In each case, bets are won if the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling your number, and you lose if the shooter rolls your number first. No numbers matter other than 7 and the number you lay.
Let’s say you place a craps lay bet on the 6. That means you win only if the shooter rolls a 7 before the next 6. If the next few rolls are 11, 5, 9, 3 and so on, nothing happens to your bet. Those numbers don’t matter.
At any point, if a roll results in a 7, you win, or if the roll is 6, you lose.
CRAPS LAY BETS AND YOUR ODDS OF WINNING
There are 36 possible combinations of two six-sided dice in craps lay bets.
Six of those combinations total 7, while five total 6, five total 8, four each total 5 and 9 and three each total 4 and 10. That means you’ll:
- win six times for every five times you lose if you lay 6 or 8;
- win six times per four losses on 5 or 9; and;
- win six times per three losses on 4 or 10.
When lay betting on craps games the odds in favor of you winning lay bets are:
- 6-5 on 6 or 8
- 3-2 on 5 or 9
- 2-1 on 4 or 10
THE PAYOFFS AND COMMISSION RULES FOR CRAPS LAY BETS
Because a craps lay bet wins more often than results in losses, the house charges a commission in order to gain an edge.
Lay bet craps payoffs are commensurate with the following examples:
- If you bet $6 on 6 or 8, a winner will bring you $5.
- If you bet $3 on 5 or 9, a winner will bring you $2; and;
if you bet $2 on 4 or 10, a winner will bring you $1.
The commission on craps lay bets amounts to 5% of the amount you would win if the shooter rolled a 7.
See table below to visualize the comparison since I’ve set the bet sizes into amounts so that each would win $20.
- If you lay 6 or 8, you must wager $24 for a chance to win $20 (the 6-5 odds multiplied by four). Five percent of $20 is $1, so that’s the commission you must add to your wager, meaning your full craps lay bet total is $25 for a chance to win $20.
- If you lay 5 or 9, you must start with $30 for a chance to win $20, and the 1 percent commission brings your total risk to $31.
- If you lay 4 or 10 you must start with $40 for a chance to win $20, and the 1 percent commission bring your total risk to $41.
COMMISSION RULES AFFECTING HOUSE EDGES ON CRAPS LAY BETS
Some casinos charge the commission only if your bet wins. That makes a difference in the house edge, as we’ll see below.
The best craps lay bet deal in the casino is on 4 or 10 because the commission represents the smallest proportion of your bet.
Let’s start with casinos where you must pay the commission on all craps lay bets, regardless of whether the outcome results in a win or loss.
- If your craps lay bet is 4 or 10, the house edge is 2.44 percent. In the long run, per $100 wagered, you would average $2.44 in losses.
- If you lay 5 or 9, the house edge is 3.23 percent.
- If you lay 6 or 8, the house edge is 4 percent.
What if the house charges the commission only on winning craps lay bets? When commission is triggered only on lay bet wins the house edge is reduced on all numbers.
- On 4 or 10, the craps lay bet win only commission on winners only house edge is 1.67 percent.
- On 5 or 9, the win only commission on winners house edge is 2 percent.
- On 6 or 8, the win only commission house edge is 2.27 percent.
HOW TO WIN A LAY BET IN CRAPS COMPARISON CHART
The following table provides a detailed comparison of the house edges, payout odds, and required bet amounts for each craps lay bet number, as previously discussed:
| Number | True Odds | Wager to Win $20 | Total Risk | House Edge |
| 4 or 10 | 2:1 | $40 | $41 | 1,67% |
| 5 or 9 | 3:2 | $30 | $31 | 2% |
| 6 or 8 | 6:5 | $24 | $25 | 2.27% |
COMMISSIONS ON LAY BETS CRAPS: ONLINE VS. LIVE CASINO
When deciding to play a lay bets craps strategy, it’s worth considering online casinos over live casinos because some don’t charge commission. But even when they do, they may have player friendly rules for craps lay bets that could be valuable to a player’s bankroll.
UNDERSTANDING A PLAYER’S LAY BETS CRAPS BANKROLL
Players using a lay bets craps strategy should understand how bankroll management is a key factor to consider. Even though lay bets tend to win more often they require larger wagers to win smaller amounts. A long winning streak would be needed to recover lay bets craps strategy losses.
WHEN ARE CRAPS LAY BETS MOST STRATEGICALLY USEFUL?
Lay bets in craps are most useful during a "cold table" or when the shooter is on a losing streak, as they bet against point numbers like 4 or 10. These numbers are less likely to be rolled before a 7, giving the craps lay bet a lower house edge. Advanced players use lay bets to capitalize on a string of seven-outs by betting against the point.
On a "hot roll," where shooters consistently hit their points, lay bets are less effective. Some players also use them to hedge other bets, like pass or come bets, for more balanced risk.
Additionally, the "lay the back line" strategy involves betting against all box numbers before the come-out roll, hoping for a 7 to win immediately.
DARK SIDE LAY BETS IN CRAPS: PLAYER DYNAMICS AND ONLINE ADVANTAGES
Dark side bettors who employ a craps lay bet strategy often face disapproval from other players due to their opposition to the shooter. This tension is less prevalent in online settings, where players can place lay bets in craps without social scrutiny. Additionally, online casinos may offer more favorable payout rules, enhancing the appeal of lay bets for those who prefer betting against the shooter.
EXPLORING THE CRAPS LAY BET: IS IT A STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE WORTH PURSUING?
In this blog post, I've explained the mechanics of craps lay bets and how odds versus payouts can impact a player's bankroll. Remember, when aiming to profit at craps tables, the house edge varies based on commission rules. Online casinos often offer more favorable odds and lower house edges, making them an appealing option for players seeking better betting conditions.
In understanding what is a lay bet in craps it's important to note that, in all instances the house edge is lower for the patient player who bets 'Don't Pass' and 'Don't Come'. However, if the casino charges a commission only on winning bets, lay bets in craps offer a viable option for dark side players who wish to select their own numbers.
