An Introduction to Craps

It’s time to talk table games! In this blog series, we’re discussing some of the best table games in Philadelphia like roulette, craps, poker-based table games, blackjack and more!

Rivers Casino Philadelphia is home to the hottest craps tables in Philadelphia!

It is rumored that Roman soldiers created the game of craps using their armor shields as a table. Others speculate that craps evolved from the English game of hazard. What we know for sure is that craps is now one of the most popular and exciting casino table games!

Contrary to popular belief, craps is actually a very simple game where the players make bets on the outcome of the roll of dice. Play begins with players making bets wagering if a seven will or won’t be rolled before the point. Then, dice are thrown and a point (either 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) is established.

When playing craps, players are able to make additional bets as well. Odds is a common wager that is made as an add-on to the pass or don’t pass bets. These are popular wagers because they offer true odds (there is no house edge). When the point is 4 or 10 pass line odds pay 2-1 and don’t pass odds pay 1-2 , when the point is 5 or 9 pass line odds pay 3-2 and don’t pass odds pay 2-3, and when the point is 6 or 8 pass line odds pay 6-5 and don’t pass odds pay 5-6.

Players can also make come bets. These wagers allow players to essentially establish multiple points and each come bet can have odds behind it.

Another popular bet at craps tables are the hardways. These bets pay out if a 4, 6, 8, or 10 is rolled “the hard way” which is craps-lingo for a pair of matching dice. If a 4 is rolled with 2 two’s it’s said to be rolled “hard” but if it’s rolled with a three and a one it’s said to be rolled “easy”. The payouts for hard 4 and 10 are 7-1 and hard 6 and 8 pay 9-1.

After a point is established, many players like to make place or buy bets on numbers aside from the point. These wagers don’t pay as well as pass line odds but allow players to pick the specific numbers they want to wager on.

A relatively new wager is called the fire bet. This exciting wager is placed before a shooter establishes their first point on their first come out roll. If the shooter hits four or more different points every player who makes a fire bet is a winner! Four made points pays 25 for 1, five made points pays 250 for 1 and six made points pays 1,000 for 1 (That’s $5,000 on a $5 wager!!)

Rivers Casino Philadelphia has some of the most exciting table games in Philly. Never played craps before? Try our Interblock electronic craps games offering wagers as low as $.50!

Read our other blogs about slots and table games here.

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