Win Christmas Cash at the Crap Table

A lot of companies host the office Christmas party at local casinos because of the great food, festive decor, and entertainment at a reasonable price. Don't let this year's economic worries deter you from enjoying a full evening of post-party entertainment at the gaming tables because you've gone home broke in years past. Nobody likes to lose, and there are proven ways to dramatically reduce your chances of losing and increase your chances of winning - namely by not playing games with bad odds - like slots, keno, and roulette. Above all other casino games, craps offers the casino gambler the very best odds of winning and the biggest bang for the buck when it comes to fun and excitement.

If you've watched, but never played craps before, you probably came away shaking your head and thinking, "I could never play that game. It's too complicated." Not true! Shooting craps can be as simple as playing a slot machine (with a whole lot more fun and potential profit), if you follow my strategy for beginners:

1. Limit your bankroll

2. Practice good crap table etiquette

3. Bet the minimum Pass line bet and bet double odds

4. Recognize when it's time to walk away

LIMIT YOUR BANKROLL

The most important piece of advice is this: NEVER gamble more money than you can comfortably lose and chalk it up as the cost of an evening's entertainment. Only you can decide what that dollar amount will be. Even though the game of craps offers you a nearly even chance of winning, conversely, it also offers you an even chance of losing. There is no (I repeat, NO) gambling strategy that can guarantee you'll win - not even this one. For a crap table with a $5.00 minimum bet requirement, I recommend a starting bankroll of $100 or more. With a little luck, you'll enjoy hours of fun and walk away from the table with most of your original bankroll. With good luck, you could potentially walk away with your $100 and some of the casino's money to use for Christmas shopping. In case of bad luck, however, never break this cardinal rule: if your bankroll reaches zero, walk away from the table.

CRAP TABLE ETIQUETTE

Craps is a social game and you'll be playing with as many as a dozen other players. Some may be serious gamblers risking large amounts of money bet on each roll of the dice. There are a few rules of crap table etiquette you need to know and practice in order to avoid interrupting the orderly flow of the game and incurring the wrath of experienced players and dealers:

1. Make sure you pick an open spot in which to stand at the table. If you are unsure, ask the player next to you, "Can I slip in here?" Never interrupt a player holding the dice. Wait to speak until the dice have stopped rolling and the number has been called by the dealer with the stick.
2. Wait and watch the action on the table. The only time you can buy chips or place a bet is in between rolls of the dice. The dice will be sitting in the middle of the table and dealers will be paying off bets. To buy chips at the table, toss your cash onto the table directly in front of you, but beyond the Pass Line, and say, "Chips for the game." When the dealer finishes paying off the bets from the last roll, he/she will pick up your cash and push a stack of chips toward you. If the dice are already back in the hands of the shooter, say to the dealer, "No action." Do not try to pick up your chips until after the dice have rolled. Then, pick up your chips quickly and place them in the rack on the rail of the table directly in front of you.
3. I recommend that beginners wait to buy chips or place a bet until the current game is settled by the shooter's win or loss. Place your bet before the dealer with the stick says, "Dice are coming out," and the dice are pushed to the next shooter in line. Place a $5 chip inside the stripe that says "Pass Line" directly in front of you. Never try to take this bet off the table. Once made, this bet cannot be taken back unless and until the game is settled and it is a winning bet.
4. Never allow your hands to interfere with the roll of the dice. It's considered very bad luck to touch another players dice. If the dice hit your hands and roll a seven, the shooter loses control of the dice and all Pass Line bets are lost. You don't want to be blamed for that. Rest your hands on the rail of the table if you like, but don't allow them to dangle over the edge. Place your bets and remove your winnings without delay and keep your hands up and out of the way of the shooter at all times.
5. Dealers pay off all winning bets in a standard order. Wait until the dealer finishes paying your Pass Line bet and moves on to the next player in line before removing your chips from the table. Avoid touching another player's chips. If you're ever unsure which chips belong to you, ask the dealer.
6. Craps players are a superstitious bunch. On the come out roll, it is okay to root for a seven to roll since it's an automatic winner. It's considered very bad luck for a player to say out loud that the next roll might be a losing seven, however. Keep your words positive. Congratulate the shooter who rolls many times and wins. Don't blame the person who shoots a few times and loses. Talk to other players the way you'd want them to talk to you.
7. Remember that this is a game. If it is not profitable, it should at least be fun. If you're not having fun, do yourself and everyone else a favor - cash in your chips and find something else to do. Only bettors are allowed to stand at the crap table. If you wish to watch, stand away from the table and do not crowd the players. If your spouse or friend wishes to watch you, they must stand behind you, not at the table.

8. BET THE PASS LINE AND TAKE ODDS

   There are a wide variety of bets (some straightforward and some exotic) that can be made in the game of craps, but the beginner only needs to know the two bets with the best odds of winning. These are the Pass Line bet and the Odds bet. These can be made at anytime, but it is best to place your Pass line bet before a new shooter rolls the dice for the first time. This is called the "come-out roll." On the come-out roll, your Pass Line bet automatically wins if the count of the dice is 7 or 11. You'll lose your bet if the shooter rolls "craps," which is 2, 3, or 12 and you'll need to place another Pass Line bet. Any other number (4-5-6-8-9-10) becomes the "point" number and your Pass Line bet remains until that number is rolled a second time (winner) or until the shooter rolls a 7 (loser).

   The Odds bet is in addition to your Pass Line bet and it is only made after the shooter establishes the point number.The Odds bet is an additional bet on the point number. It is placed behind the Pass Line, between you and your original bet. Observe the other players to see the proper placement of your Odds bet. Again, ask your dealer if you have any question on placing your bet.

   I recommend beginners place a minimum Pass Line bet (not less than $5) before the come-out roll. If the shooter rolls 7 or 11, pick up your $5 winnings but do not touch your original bet. Once the point number is established, place a double Odds bet behind your Pass Line Bet. If the point number is 4-6-8-10 the Odds bet is $10. If the point number is 5 or 9, the Odds bet is $12. The reason for the difference is that the house pays true odds on these bets based on the likelihood of that number rolling a second time before a 7 is rolled. On a 4 or 10, $10 pays $20. On 5 or 9, $12 pays $14. On 6 or 8, $10 pays $12.

   If the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point number a second time, you lose both your Pass Line and Odds bet. If the shooter rolls the point number, you win 1 for 1 on the Pass Line Bet ($5) and you also win true odds on your Odds bet.

   Here's an example of how a winning game works and how much you would win: You place $5 on the Pass Line before the come-out roll. Shooter rolls a 7. Dealer pays you $5 which you pick up and put in your rack. Shooter rolls an 11. Dealer pays you another $5, which you also pick up. Shooter rolls an 8. This becomes the point number. You place your $10 Odds bet behind the Pass Line - you're now betting $15 that the shooter will roll another 8 before he rolls a 7. The next roll is a 4 and the next is 3. These have no effect on your bets. On the next roll, the number 8 comes up. The dealer announces a winner and begins paying off the winning bettors. You are paid $5 next to your Pass Line bet and $12 next to your $10 Odds bet. On the table you have your $15 original bets plus $17 in winnings. Leave $5 on the Pass Line for the come-out roll. Pick up the other chips and put them in the rack in front of you.

   The first time a beginner plays craps, I advise that they do not shoot the dice. When the dealer offers them to you, simply say, "Pass," and the dealer will move the dice to the next shooter down the table. Play for awhile, build your confidence placing your bets, and watch how the other players shoot the dice. Then and only then should you take the dice in hand and try your luck as the shooter.

   IT'S TIME TO GO WHEN...

   1. When the table is down to just a few players, it generally means that the other players have decided that the luck has turned bad. Follow their lead and cash in your chips.

   2. When you have doubled your original bankroll. Walk away a winner with good memories of your first time on the crap table.

   3. When 5 shooters in a row fail to make their point, walk away with your remaining bankroll. Don't hang around hoping the luck of the table will change. It rarely does.

   4. Walk away if you lose your original bankroll. Do not, under any circumstances, take any more money out of your wallet. Remember, you should only risk what you can afford to lose in good humor.

   When you're ready to go, wait for a break in the action between shooters and place your chips in one or two stacks on the table in front of you. Tell the dealer, "Cash me in." The dealer will take your chips, count them, and pay you in larger denomination chips after the next roll of the dice. These chips are then cashed in at the casino cashier cage.

   Craps is one of those games in which you will learn more from actually playing the game than merely reading an article on the subject. I hope, however, that this tutorial will help you feel more at ease and allow you to enjoy your first session of craps. Have fun and may Lady Luck smile on you.