Multi-Roll Bets in Craps

Quick Links
Written by Boris Atanasov
Boris Atanasov
With more than 4+ years of experience in the iGaming industry, Boris Atanasov writes exciting content about slots, video poker, roulette and blackjack.
, | Updated:

Craps is a fun, social casino game in which all players usually win or lose together. While most novices and seasoned players alike tend to place their money on the Pass Line, some craps fans prefer to try something different and more complex: the so-called multi-roll bets.

There is more to craps than the classic Pass and Don’t Pass bets, which revolve around the number 7 and the craps numbers. Most casinos offer at least 30 types of bets, and to make the most of the game, players should learn how to use them to improve their chances of winning. One category of wagers is known as single-roll bets; they are the simplest to place because they are resolved on the next roll of the dice.

Multi-roll bets, on the other hand, may take two or more rolls to win or lose. They can be more engaging, but placing them requires experience, concentration, and a deeper knowledge of the game.

Basics of the Multi-Roll Bets

1Some Multi-Roll Bets Can be Placed at Any Time

Because of the wide variety of wagers, craps can seem like one of the most complicated games on the casino floor, especially to people seeing it for the first time. However, many of these wagers are quite simple once you learn the basics of the game. A major challenge is understanding wagers that cannot be settled with a single roll of the dice.

These wagers, known as multi-roll bets, can be harder to follow during play. Several rolls are usually required before their outcome can be determined. Players should keep a few things in mind before trying Place or Lay bets in a real-money game. First, these wagers do not have to be placed at the start of a round, when a new shooter takes the dice. Instead, some multi-roll bets can be placed at any time, which is more convenient than waiting for the come-out roll to put chips on the table.

2The May Remain Active For the Next Come-Out Roll

Sometimes, the shooter makes the point before the multi-roll bet is resolved. Depending on the casino’s rules, these wagers may remain active for the next come-out roll or may be considered “not working.” Usually, they are paused until a new point is established. In addition, some multi-roll bets can be removed or adjusted in size during the game.

3Multi-Roll Bets Offer Much Better Odds

It is also important to note that, compared with single-roll bets, which are easier to make and are resolved on the next roll of the dice, multi-roll bets offer much better odds. They usually cover larger groups of numbers, so the chances of winning with five or six numbers are higher than when betting on a single number. The house edge is also usually much lower than the edge players face with a single-roll wager. Lastly, players should take the commission charged on certain bets into account. This fee is typically equal to 5 percent of the winnings.

Multi-Roll Bets in Craps Explained

Place Bets
blank Buy Bets
blank Lay Bets
blank Hard Way Bets
blank Big 6 and Big 8 Bets

Place Bets

A Place bet is a wager on a single number, and it can be made only after a point has been established. Players can wager on any of the point numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. However, when playing in a brick-and-mortar casino, they cannot place this bet on their own. To make a Place bet, players should put their chips on the Come bet field and tell the dealer which number they wish to wager on. For instance, to bet on 8, they should put down their chips and call out “Place it on the 8” or “Thirty on 8.”

When a Place bet is made, it wins if the chosen number appears before the shooter rolls a 7. It loses if the shooter rolls a 7 first. The payout is slightly lower than the true odds and varies depending on the number. Players at live, land-based casinos should bear in mind that Place bets on 4, 5, 9, and 10 should be made in units of $5, while bets on 6 and 8 should be made in units of $6. This is necessary to receive the exact payout.

  • Place bet on 4 or 10: 9:5
  • Place bet on 5 or 9: 7:5
  • Place bet on 6 or 8: 7:6

Some casinos also offer wagers known as “Place bets to lose,” which are the opposite of Place bets. These wagers win if a 7 appears before the chosen number, and the payouts are as follows:

  • Place bet on 4 or 10 to lose: 5:11
  • Place bet on 5 or 9 to lose: 5:8
  • Place bet on 6 or 8 to lose: 4:5

Buy Bets

Buy bets are very similar to Place bets, but they pay at the true odds minus a small 5% commission. When players make a Buy bet, they leave their chips on the table and call out the desired number to the dealer. With this wager, players “buy” a specific number, betting that it will be rolled before a 7 appears. Buy bets cannot be made on the come-out roll; they are available only after a point has been established. If a 7 is rolled before the number, the bet loses.

If the shooter makes the point before the Buy bet is resolved, the wager remains on the table and is considered “not working” until a new point is established. Because of the 5% commission, also known as vigorish or vig, the minimum Buy bet is usually the table minimum plus the commission. While some casinos take this commission on all Buy wagers, others charge it only on bets that win, reducing the house edge. Here are the payouts for this wager, depending on the number players choose:

  • Buy bet on 4 or 10: 2:1 minus 5% of the bet amount
  • Buy bet on 5 or 9: 3:2 minus 5% of the bet amount
  • Buy bet on 6 or 8: 6:5 minus 5% of the bet amount

Lay Bets

Lay bets are interesting because they are essentially the opposite of Buy bets. They can be placed either before or after the come-out roll. With a Lay bet, players wager that the shooter will roll a 7 before a specific number. This is a service bet, which means that the dealer takes the player’s chips and places them on the chosen number: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.

If that number appears before a 7 is rolled, the Lay bet loses. If a 7 appears first, however, the bet wins and pays at the true odds. Because it is the opposite of a Buy bet, the payouts are reversed. Moreover, the 5% commission is charged only on the amount of the winnings:

  • Lay bet on 4 or 10: 1:2 minus 5% of the winnings
  • Lay bet on 5 or 9: 2:3 minus 5% of the winnings
  • Lay bet on 6 or 8: 5:6 minus 5% of the winnings

As the payouts above show, winning Lay bets pay less than the amount wagered. For instance, if a player lays $40 on 4 and wins, the 1:2 payout pays $20. The commission will be $1 based on the $20 payout rather than the $40 bet. However, some casinos require the vig to be paid upfront, so the player must bet $41 to win $20.

Hard Way Bets

Rolling a total the “hard way” means rolling identical numbers on both dice. Players can wager on this outcome, and the bet is known as Hard Way betting or Doubles. Players may place this bet only on certain numbers: 4, 6, 8, and 10. Natural totals such as 2 and 12 are not included in this category.

This bet wins only when the chosen number appears as a double rather than as a combination of different numbers. A Hard 10, for instance, wins only if the dice show 5-5, while a Hard 8 wins only when the shooter rolls 4-4. All other combinations are referred to as the “easy way.” Hard Way bets cannot be made on the come-out roll, so players must wait for a point to be established. These bets lose when a 7 is rolled first or when the chosen total appears as a non-double.

If a player bets on a Hard 8, for example, the wager loses if the shooter rolls any 7, 5-3, or 6-2 before rolling 4-4. When the bet wins, it pays slightly less than the true odds. No commission is charged, but the house edge is quite high compared with classic craps wagers such as Pass or Come bets.

  • Hard 4/10: 7:1
  • Hard 6/8: 9:1

Big 6 and Big 8 Bets

Experienced craps players usually avoid the Big 6 and Big 8 bets because they are widely considered “sucker bets.” The reason is their high house edge of more than 9%. With these options, players bet that the shooter will roll a 6 or 8 before a 7 appears. Players can place these wagers themselves without assistance from the dealers. They can also be made at any time, either before or after the come-out roll.

The Big 6/8 area has a dedicated box on the betting layout, located next to the Pass Line and Don’t Pass fields. The bet loses if a 7 is rolled before a 6 or 8. It wins if a 6 or 8 appears first. The bet pays even money (1:1), while the true odds are 6:5.

Comparison Between the Multi-Roll Bets in Craps

1Advantages of Multi-Roll Bets

Compared with the standard Pass and Don’t Pass wagers in craps, multi-roll bets are a little more complicated to place, but they can also be more engaging to play. Some offer favorable odds and a relatively low house edge. However, beginners should practice multi-roll bets in online RNG games, where they can play multiple rounds for free.

2Complete Multi-Roll Bets Table

To compare these bets and determine which may be worthwhile and which should be avoided, players need to understand when they can be placed, along with their payouts and true odds.

Bet Allowed Wins Loses True Odds Payout House edge
Place 4/10 After the come-out roll 4/10 7 2:1 9:5 6.67%
Place 5/9 After the come-out roll 5/9 7 3:2 7:5 4.00%
Place 6/8 After the come-out roll 6/8 7 6:5 7:6 1.52%
Buy 4/10 After the come-out roll 4/10 7 2:1 2:1 minus 5% vig 4.76%
Buy 5/9 After the come-out roll 5/9 7 3:2 3:2 minus 5% vig 4.76%
Buy 6/8 After the come-out roll 6/8 7 6:5 6:5 minus 5% vig 4.76%
Lay 4/10 Any time 7 4/10 1:2 1:2 minus 5% on winnings 1.67%
Lay 5/9 Any time 7 5/9 2:3 2:3 minus 5% on winnings 2.00%
Lay 6/8 Any time 7 6/8 5:6 5:6 minus 5% on winnings 2.27%
Hard 4/10 After the come-out roll 4/10 as a pair 7, 4/10 as a non-pair 8:1 7:1 11.11%
Hard 6/8 After the come-out roll 6/8 as a pair 7, 6/8 as a non-pair 10:1 9:1 9.09%
Big 6/8 Any time 6/8 7 6:5 1:1 9.09%

3Always Take a Look at the Rules and Payouts

The rules for some of these bets can vary across casinos, so before risking their money, players should review all rules and payouts. The house edge for Buy bets, for example, may be much lower if the commission, or vig, is charged only on the winnings rather than on the amount wagered. The standard 4.76% casino advantage drops to 1.67% for the numbers 4 and 10, 1.96% for the numbers 5 and 9, and 2.22% for the numbers 6 and 8.

The Big 6 and Big 8 are not favorable options, and most players prefer making Place bets on 6 and 8 because they pay more. With the same odds of 6:5, Place bets on 6 or 8 pay 7:6, while the Big 6/8 pays only even money. The house edge is also significantly lower, at just 1.52% compared with 9.09% for the Big 6/8.

BonusInsider is a leading informational website that provides reviews of the latest casino, sports betting, and bingo bonuses. We also list guides on how to play some of the most popular casino games including roulette, slots, blackjack, video poker, live dealers.