Making Money Playing Craps

Start With A Pass Line Wager

There are two bets you need to make together to have the greatest odds of making money in craps. The first wager is called the pass line bet. You make this wager before a new throw of the dice in craps. You are wagering that the roller will either roll a 7 or 11 on his first roll, or roll the same number that he rolled on his first roll again, before he rolls a seven. According to the Wizardofodds website, the house advantage on a pass line bet is only 1.41 percent.

Follow Up With An Odds Bet

An odds bet or an odds wager can only be made after the shooter in craps rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 on his first roll. A player can not place an odds wager unless he placed a pass line wager before the shooter made his previous roll. Depending on where you are playing, you can place an odds bet of anywhere from 1 to 100 times your original wager. Your odds bet is paid out to you if the roller rolls that number, which is the number he rolled on his first roll, before he rolls a seven. This actually means you will win or lose both your pass bet and odds bet based on the same roll of the dice. If you only bet the same amount on an odds bet that you wagered on the pass line bet, the house advantage is reduced to .82 percent from 1.41 percent. If you wager 100 times your original pass line bet, the house odds are only .021 percent. This is optimal for making money.

Reverse Your Strategy

You can also bet against the shooter and leave the house with a small enough advantage that you have a chance to make money. Betting on the Don't Pass line instead of the Pass line means you want the shooter to roll a 2, 3 or 12 on the first roll instead of a 7 or 11. Some locations play that a roll of a two is a tie, and others play a roll of a 12 is a tie, but the other two numbers in those situations is a win for the Don't Pass line wagerer.

You can also wager against the odds after a shooter has rolled his first roll establishing a point. This bet is referred to as "laying the odds." When you "lay the odds" you are betting that the shooter will roll a seven before he rolls his point (the number he rolled on his first roll). When playing both the Don't Pass line and laying the odds, the house advantage is .68 percent with single odds and reduces down to as low as .014 percent with 100 times odds. Just like with the Pass Line along with an odds wager, when you bet the Don't Pass line and lay the odds, the same result of the dice determines the win or loss of both wagers.

Craps tends to be a social game of the shooter playing against the house and bets are more frequently made supporting the shooter's goal. So if you wager against him, don't be surprised to get a few comments from those that disagree with your strategy. It's your money though, so wager as you wish.

Manage Your Bankroll And Walk Away

To make money in craps, you need to have a very large bankroll. If you are planning on playing full 100 times odds, and the casino permits it, you should have a bankroll of 500 to 1000 times your typical pass line wager. The house still has an advantage in craps, even if you follow this strategy. One of the keys to making money at craps is having a large enough bankroll to withstand runs of bad luck, and having the strength to walk away from the table when you are making a profit instead of playing longer and losing it back to the house.