Betting in the Game of Craps: Big 6 and Big 8 Bets
On a busy craps table layout, one of the things sure to catch your attention is the 6 and 8 in the corner next to the Pass Line and Don’t Pass bar areas. That’s the Big 6 and Big 8 bets.
“Big 6” and “Big 8” bets are even money wagers that your choice of 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7. It’s one of the multi roll bets where you have more than one chance at winning.
Some casinos take special effort to make this area more noticeable and have the numbers in red as if to call special attention to this bet. We’ll show you how to make this bet and if this bet is worth making at all.
Betting the Big 6 or Bet 8 is very easy. All you need to do is take a chip and place it in either the 6 or 8 spot. This signifies which number is yours. Remember, you’re not betting on both numbers (unless you make 2 bets). It also doesn’t matter if the numbers come up hard or easy – you win if your number comes up before a 7. Like all other multi-roll bets, Big 6 and Big 8 bets continue until you win or lose. If the shooter wins or starts a new round this has no effect on your bet. It’s still working despite what’s going on with someone else’s roll.
So, is it a good bet?
Truth be told, not really. The house enjoys a whopping 9.09 percent edge and you only get paid even money. You might as well just make a Place bet, where the house edge is only 1.52%. You’re still betting that a 6 or 8 will come up before 7, but now the odds a little more in your favor. Avoid this bet like the one-dollar buffet (what WAS that yellow stuff, anyway?)
So if it’s such a poor bet, why is it on the table? Well, because it’s a poor bet, that’s why. Most of us like our cars big, our houses big and we like our bets to be big as well. Adding “Big” to something and dressing it up in bright red entices more people than you might think. So when Nancy Newcomer comes over and decides on a bet, her eyes are going to fixate on the Big 6 and Big 8 area because it’s so noticeable. The casinos are more than happy to take that bet.
Don’t be Nancy Newcomer. Avoid Big 6 and Big 8 and make another bet at the table instead. Good luck!
