Live Dealer Craps Technology Coming Soon

A Brief History of Craps

In the mid 1700′s wealthy nobles in Europe engaged in a contest called Hazard, although an earlier version mentioned in the 1400′s version of The Canterbury Tales indicates that the game was actually much older. In fact, there has been some mention that crusaders in the 1100′s used the knuckles of dead soldiers to play a similar game; but that of course is a story all in itself. It is safe to assume that Hazard and other versions of Craps have been around for quite a long time, regardless of who actually invented it.

The game itself played like a combination between Sic Bo and Craps; either two or three dice were used (depending on location) and the better had multiple outs. Before rolling the dice, the better would choose a single number between five and nine (for two die games) and try to roll that number. If a total of two or three was revealed then the better lost, but if eleven or twelve was revealed then the game becomes more complicated. Depending on the original number selected, the player will either continue throwing the dice for the original number or he will roll again to determine a “chance” number. If a chance number is established, the player’s goal is to then once again roll the chance before his original wager is rolled. Needless to say, the rules were ridiculously complicated and it is a wonder that it was ever introduced at all.

In 1813, a resident of New Orleans named Bernard de Mandeville took the game hazard and vastly simplified the betting cycles and the play itself. The new format caught on quickly inside the casinos up and down the Mississippi river, except that it still had some serious flaws in terms of being profitable. Like its predecessor Hazard, only one player was able to place wagers at a time. This led to gamblers and dishonest casinos to using everything from loaded dice to rigged tables in order to allow high rollers to hold control of the betting, which simply wasn’t very popular since most of the spectators were left out of the fun. John Winn suggested the addition of a “pass” and “no pass” bet later that decade and suddenly the modern game of craps was born.

Types of Bets

Today’s version of online craps has added several different side bets that can drastically increase the player’s overall odds of winning, especially if a hot shooter (the player rolling the dice) is doing well on the table.

The Pass Line-

The basic premise of the game is to roll a seven or an eleven right off the bat; if either one shows up on the first roll then the shooter wins. If the shooter rolls a two, thee, or eleven, then he automatically loses. If anything else is rolled, that’s okay too, because that’s where we really get into the heart of the game. This bet pays even money (1:1).

The Don’t Pass Line-

If a player rolls a two or a three to start the game, this bet wins. If the shooter rolls a twelve, it is considered a push and the bet is returned. If the shooter rolls a seven or an eleven, the bet loses. If anything else is rolled, then the bet signifies that the shooter will not roll his “pass” number a second time before a seven comes out. This bet pays even money (1:1).

The Free Odds Pass Line Bet-

After the opening roll, players can place and additional wager just behind the pass line and receive the actual odds of that number coming up again before a seven is rolled. For a four or ten, the odds are two to one (2:1). For a five or a nine, the odds are three to two (3:2). For a six or an eight, the odds are six to five (6:5).

It is also important to note at this point that these three bets have the best overall odds of any wager at the table. The “free odds bet” is particularly attractive because of the higher overall payouts.

The Come and Don’t Come Bets

These bets are identical to the pass and don’t pass wagers, except they are made after the starting roll. The come bet signifies that the shooter will roll his original throw before rolling a seven, don’t come signifies that a seven will appear before the original roll. The come bet is also eligible for additional wagers with free odds after additional throws.

The Field Bet

This is a one roll bet that the dice will come up 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. It pays even money (1:1) on the 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11, pays two to one odds (2:1) if a 2 is rolled, and three to one odds (3:1) if a 12 is rolled.

The Place Bet

A place bet signifies that a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will appear before a seven, and each number carries specific odds. A 4 or 10 pays nine to five (9:5), a five or nine pays seven to five (7:5), and a six or eight pays seven to six (7:6). These bets can be placed at any time during the game and are the exact same as the buy bet (note- the Buy Bet has better odds on the 4 and 10, but it has worse odds on the 5, 6, 7, or 9. If you are betting the 4 or the 10, place the Buy Bet instead.).

The Proposition Bet

A proposition bet is a one roll bet that predicts the actual face value of the dice. Betting that any seven will come out pays five to one (5:1), betting 2, 3, or 11 comes out pays eight to one (8:1), betting the roll of a one and a two pays sixteen to one (16:1), betting that two ones or two sixes comes out pays thirty-one to one (31:1).

The Hardways Bet

This is a single throw bet that involves the shooter rolling doubles, and a total of four or ten pays eight to one (8:1) and a six or eight pays ten to one (10:1).

The reason players are so excited about the addition of live dealer gaming is because it is the first time that the game of craps can be played over the internet, and any gambler will tell you that playing against a computer simulation is nowhere near the real thing. Adding a live dealer eliminates the questions about the legitimacy of the game and whether or not the software is granting unfair odds; which is why so many players are hesitant to gamble online to begin with.

So while the world waits for live dealer craps to be launched at these two prestigious casinos, feel free to check out the other exciting live dealer games and visit back often for updates.