Crapless Craps?

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Although this version of a craps game has been around since the days of Little Caesars and Bob Stupak's Vegas World in the seventies and early eighties, only the Stratosphere hotel in Las Vegas and a few scattered casinos around the Gulf Coast have it. If anything the game has drawn a tremendous amount of curiosity. Unlike the traditional casino craps game offered, crapless craps has a few unique variations.

The first thing to notice is there is no DONT PASS or DONT COME. In addition to that your come out points include the traditional 4-5-6-8-9-10 but also the 2-3-11  and 12. The rules of play are very simple. Come out roll SEVEN WINS! Any other number rolls and it becomes your point! Throw another seven after the point is established.......You lose! 

That's correct...If you throw a twelve on the come out roll the dealer marks the 12! Or perhaps the shooter throws a two or three, yes even the 11 will be the game point! You cannot lose on the come out roll. (Hence..'Crapless') It goes without saying that the pass line will NOT win on an 11 come out.

Other than that all other standard rules apply. The game offers traditional proposition bets and hardways with true odds, come bets place bets and lay bets with (standard 5% vig) Again you can only 'lay the point' as there is no DONT PASS or DONT COME area on the layout.

At the bottom of the page, Tony Domenick - Casino Table Games Floor Supervisor  from the Stratosphere hotel in Las Vegas will give us a little insight about playing and dealing this game.

First lets discuss the odds bets. Like the traditional game, the true odds are paid based upon the combinations of a pair of dice.

• 2 or 12 pays 6:1

• 3 or 11 pays 3:1

Other than that, the game is played and dealt the same

 

• 4 or 10 pays 2:1

• 5 or 9   pays 3:2

• 6 or 8   pays 6:5

First you need to understand  the 

DICE CHART

All the 36 possible combinations of 2 dice are organized in the table below:

As you can see the seven has six combinations and the 2 or 12 has one way each (6 to 1)....The 3 or 11 have two combinations each (6 to 2....broken down at 3 to 1) Thus you get the same 0% house edge on free odds played behind the pass line or UPON a come bet as a traditional craps game. 

Compare the two charts below, knowledge of moving a decimal point (both ways) will be imperative in helping you pay any small or large bet

How do you pay 6 to 1 odds?

SIMPLE

With knowledge of your first nine bets and payoffs you can pay anything! Here's how it works.

You always start from the strong side of the bet first.

Example: Lets say someone bets $75. 

75 x 6?........, let's break it down first.

Try this: 70 x 6 is the same a 7x6 (add a zero)

70x6=420,  now multiply the $5 that remains x 6

70 x 6 = 420

5 x 6 = 30

420 + 30 is your answer! (450)

Lets say someone bets $130

The hundred is stronger than the 30 correct?

(Remember 'STRONG SIDE' FIRST)

100 x 6 = 600

30 x 6 = 180

600 + 180 is your answer! (780)

Don't let all those zeros mess you up!

Lets say someone bets $85

The 80 is stronger than the 5 correct?

(Remember 'STRONG SIDE' FIRST)

80 x 6 = 480

5 x 6 = 30

480 + 30 is your answer! (510)

Don't let all those zeros mess you up!

Multiplying 80 is the same as multiplying 8 

 If 6 x 8 = 48 then 6 x 80 = 480

Same theory applies to 3 to 1 odds on point 3 or 11

or any bet on the game such as 2:1 - 7:1 or 9:1 for that matter!

Compare the two charts below, knowledge of moving a decimal point (both ways) will be imperative in helping you pay any small or large bet

Place Bets

Most dealers agree that dealing this game is like dealing the traditional game plus the 'BUY' bet game as the 'extreme outside' numbers should be played as 'BUY' bets in a similar fashion of point 4 or 10. 

If you think about it there are only three place bets on 4/10 that pay 9:5 - The $5, $10 and $15 bets. All 'others' are 'Buy' bets paying 2:1 - Therefore your approach to dealing this game of the same.......Only the first couple of bets will pay..

• 2 or 12 pays 11:2

• 3 or 11 pays 11:4

Other than that, the game is played and dealt the same

 

• 4 or 10 pays 9:5

• 5 or 9   pays 7:5

• 6 or 8   pays 7:6

BELOW ARE PLACE BETS AT 

11:4 

ON POINT 3 OR 11

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Q & A

With Tony Domenick 

 Table Games Floor Supervisor from the 

Stratosphere Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas 

Scott: Thanks for your time Tony. You mentioned Crapless Craps is called by another name in the Gulf Coast?

Tony: Hello Scott, yes the game that we call "Crapless Craps" at the
Stratosphere, is also known as "Never Ever Craps" at all the Grand
Casino properties on the Gulf Coast and in Tunica, MS.

Scott: How come the game isn't played in more Casinos?

Tony: Crapless Craps is a game with a copyright, so whoever
spreads the game must pay royalties. We all know how anxious casinos 
are to pay royalties.

Scott:  You we're telling me some simple strategies on the game, will you share that with us here?

Tony: Strategies vary for this game. The things that I would
tell my friends to do are these. Buy the extreme outside for $21 , $5
dollars a number at true odds. When a 2 or 12 hit and pays $30  instead
of repurchasing for $1, use that $1 to complete a proper bet, the next
time that number hits it will pay $33 and the $1 you would have paid 
for vig still belongs to you. The same goes for the 3 and 11 instead of
repurchasing for $1 toss in $3 to make a proper $8 bet which now pays
$22. One thing to bare in mind, the dealer will feel like he's being
stroked, so always take them along with you with a bet for them!

Scott: So you pay the vig 'up front'?

Tony: Yes

Scott: Do the dealers like the game?

Tony: Honestly, most dealers find this game a pain to deal. 
However this game can improve your hands with all the extra check work, also it
can improve your memory skills on a quick paced table, setting up bets
two and three rolls later. Unlike the traditional game where you get a little break when 'craps or eleven' roll, this game will always keep you busy paying off bets.

Scott: Same standard dealing procedures correct?

Tony: Correct, but remember there's no DONT side to the game.

Scott: Now let me see, even though there is no DONT PASS/DONT COME bets offered I can still LAY any number with the traditional 5% vig correct?

Tony: That's correct Scott, same rules apply. On Crapless Craps you can Lay against the 3 or 11 betting 1:3 meaning you can LAY $300 to win $!00 paying a $5 vig. Against the 2 or 12 your betting 1:6 meaning of course you can LAY $600 to win $100 paying a $5 vig.

Scott: Thus the minimum bet SHOULD be "LAY $60 to win $20 ($1 vig) "against point 3 or 11........."$120 to win $20 ($1 vig)" against the 2 or 12 correct?

Tony: That's correct Scott, it would not be in the best interest of the player to Lay any amount less in the examples you just described.

Scott: Smart play Tony?

Tony: Not really, unless of course you win the bet.

Scott: Catch a hot roll on this game and all hell breaks lose, agree?

Tony: Absolutely! If I had the choice of playing on the traditional game or this one during a HOT ROLL you could MAKE A MINT on Crapless Craps!!! Could be one reason why other casinos don't have the game.

Scott: Ok then I think we got it, thanks for your time Tony.

Tony: Not a problem at all Scott. If you or anybody has a question please feel free to ask. (Very cool site by the way)

Scott: You sir, taking the time to do this is a prime example of why the site is so cool. 

'BUY BET'

on Crapless Craps

A Buy bet is a standing bet with the dice that can be placed on any of the point numbers 

2, 3.4, 5, 6, 8, 9,10, 11 or 12 at anytime, 

however only recommended on 

2,3,4,10,11,and 12 

The bet is for the chosen number and against the 7. 

1 of  3 things can happen with this bet:

1) The selected number is rolled and the bet wins.
2) A 7 is rolled and the bet loses.
3) Any other number is rolled and the bet neither wins nor loses but rolling continues.

A Buy bet is similar to a Place bet except that you pay a 5% vig up-front in exchange for receiving a true payoff if it wins. The vig is figured on the amount wagered. For example, if you wanted to make a $20 Buy bet on the number 11, you'd put down $21 in the Come area and tell the dealer "Buy the 11". He or she will move $20 to the number 11 point box and place a BUY button on top it. The extra $1 (5% of $20) is the vig for the house. The result is that you'll win $60 (3:1) instead of $55 (11:4). If you do win and want to keep your Buy bet up, you'll have to pay the dealer another vig. The vig is returned if you remove the bet before it wins or loses.

Depending on how much you bet, the vig may work out to a fractional amount. If this fractional amount is not fully payable with any of the available checks, then the vig is rounded off. Generally, when the vig amount falls halfway or less between two payable amounts, the vig is rounded down, otherwise it's rounded up. So at a table where the smallest checks are $1, the vig will be rounded down on fractions of .50 or less and rounded up otherwise. e.g. You could Buy a bet for $50 and pay only $2 vig even though mathematically the vig comes out to $2.50. However, if you made two $50 Buy bets at the same time, you'd be charged $5 and not $4 for your total action. Even if you didn't make both bets at the same time, some casinos would charge you the extra $1 when you made the second bet, and some would not. Obviously those that don't collect the extra buck are being a bit more generous. There are some casinos that are even more generous by only charging a vig on those bets that you win. This lowers the house advantage even more and makes the Buy a much better bet. The point to remember is that each casino handles their vigs a little differently.



Buy bets, like Place bets, are automatically OFF on the come-out roll unless you call them ON. They can be called ON or OFF, as well as put up, taken down, increased, or decreased (with vig adjustments) at any time.

Buy bets do not make sense for the 

6 or 8, and generally not the 5 or 9 

But for the 2,3,4 and the 10,11,12 they do make sense and should be utilized instead of Place bets. 
When you make a Buy bet, you're taking odds which is the exact opposite of a Lay bet where you're laying odds.

Calculating 'breakage vig' on dollar game

$25 = $1 vig

$50 = $2 vig

$75 = $4 vig

Each $100 = $5 vig

Any amount in between such as a $35 or a $65 bet shall be box person's discretion

Use the above simple formula with $25 increment bets.

Example :

$125 = $6 vig (5 + 1)

$350 = $17 vig (15 +2)

Remember each $100 wagered shall be charged a $5 vig. (5%)

(strong side first)

Lay Bets on Crapless Craps

A Lay bet is a standing bet against the dice that can be placed on any of the point numbers 2,3,4, 5, 6, 8, 9,10,11 or 12 at anytime. The bet is for the 7 and against the chosen number. 1 of 3 things can happen with this bet:

1) A 7 is rolled and the bet wins.
2) The point number is rolled and the bet loses.
3) Any other number is rolled and the bet neither wins nor loses but rolling continues.


This bet pays true odds but only after you pay an up-front vig of 5% of the potential payoff. That's right, the vig is not figured on the amount bet! For example, if you wanted to make a $60 Lay bet on the number 3, you'd put down $61 in the Come or Don't Come area and tell the dealer, "Lay the 3". He or she will move $60 to the number 3 point box and place a LAY button of top of it. The extra $1 (5% of $20) is the vig for the house (the potential payoff is $20 because the odds on the Lay of point 3 are 1:3). If you win and want to keep your Lay bet up, you'll have to pay the dealer another vig. The vig is usually returned if you remove the bet before it wins or loses.


Depending on how much you bet, the vig may work out to a fractional amount. If this fractional amount is not fully payable with any of the available checks, then the vig is rounded off. Generally, when the vig amount falls halfway or less between two payable amounts, the vig is rounded down, otherwise it's rounded up. So at a table where the smallest checks are $1, the vig will be rounded down on fractions of .50 or less and rounded up otherwise. e.g. You could lay the point 11 for $150 and pay only $2 vig even though mathematically the vig comes out to $2.50. However, if you made a $150 Lay against point 3 and a $150 Lay against point 11 bet at the same time, you'd be charged $5 and not $4 for your total action. Even if you didn't make both bets at the same time, some casinos would charge you the extra $1 when you made the second bet, and some would not. Obviously those that don't collect the extra buck are being a bit more generous. There are some casinos that are even more generous by only charging a vig on those bets that you win. This lowers the house advantage even more and makes the Lay a much better bet. The point to remember is that each casino handles their vigs a little differently.



Normally, Lay bets always work but can be called OFF and back ON whenever you like. Also they can be put up, taken down, increased, or decreased (with vig adjustments) at any time. Lay bets are sometimes called NO bets. For instance you could tell the dealer you wanted to bet a "NO 11". The word Lay comes from the fact that you're laying odds which is the exact opposite of a Buy bet where you're taking odds.

Calculating 'breakage vig' on WIN amount

Bet wins $25 = $1 vig

Bet wins $50 = $2 vig

Bet wins $75 = $4 vig

Any win amount in between such as a $35 or a $65 bet shall be box person's discretion

Use the above simple formula with $25 increment bets.

Example :

Player wins $125 = $6 vig (5 + 1)

Player wins $350 = $17 vig (15 +2)

Remember each $100 in winnings shall be charged a $5 vig. (5%)

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