Betting in Craps: Lay Bets
There is no “sure thing” when it comes to Craps. Even the best players have their “off” times, and that’s to be expected. This is “gambling” after all (it’s certainly not called “a sure thing every time”). There are, however, bets that give the player a better chance of beating the odds. One such bet is the “Lay Bet”.
So how do lay bets work, exactly? The answer is: Very simply. A lay bet is a multi roll bet and its whole concept is the reverse of a Buy Bet (however, LIKE a Buy Bet, this is also a “true odds” type of bet, that charges for a five percent commission, but these commissions are usually only collected as long as the bet wins.)
Basically, what a lay bet stands for is a wager that a “7” will be rolled before your own chosen bet number (4,5,6,8,9,10). That’s it – you pick one of those numbers, bet on it, and hope you never see it again. This bet actually has pretty decent odds, considering that when you look at dice, there are a total of six ways to add up to “7”.
Like a But Bet, there’s a commission to be paid. Most casinos will take the commission out of a win, and we recommend you avoid those that do not (paying just to bet is a losing proposition in our minds.)
Like other Multi-Roll Bets, the Lay Bet can carry over if the point is made (assuming the point isn’t the number bet against, of course.) The bettor also has the option of having his or her bet taken back if they are feeling uncomfortable about the whole thing.
As you can see, Lay bets allow for a player that is new to the game a little bit of leeway to actually try some things out at the table, and not be penalized for making a “newcomer” mistake. It’s also a nice bet in that it pays true odds (at the expense of a payout.) But you tend to see more winners in this game, due to the 7 being such a common roll – we like betting on 7!
Now go up to a table, grab a pair of dice (wait until it’s your turn, of course), and start rolling away for those high stakes dreams. With a little luck and a few good lay bets, you’ll get there in no time!
