| Be smart, play smart, learn how to play casino craps | | | | to attract customers, most casinos require the vig |
| the right way! | | | | after you win the bet. For example, for a $10 Buy |
| All aspects of the Buy bet are the same as the Place | | | | bet on the 4 with an after-win vig, you put down |
| bet except: 1) A Buy bet pays off at true odds, 2) | | | | only the $10. Then, if you win, the dealer pays you |
| You have to pay a tax, or a vigorish, to get the true | | | | $19 (i.e., $20 for the win minus $1 for the vig). Paying |
| odds, and 3) A Buy bet is positioned on the layout | | | | the vig after a win lowers the house advantage, |
| differently. Everything else about the Buy bet is the | | | | which makes the Buy bet even better. |
| same as the Place bet. | | | | My experience is that, if a player has a choice of |
| The casino is in business to make money, so they're | | | | casinos to play, then vigs are generally paid after a |
| not going to give you true odds for nothing (except, | | | | win. If a casino is the only game in town, then vigs |
| of course, the free true Odds bet that you can add | | | | are generally paid up front. The reason is |
| to your Pass Line bet--they're "free" because you | | | | simple--competition. If you have a choice of casinos, |
| don't have to pay a vigorish). So, how does the | | | | you can walk out and go to the casino next door. |
| casino make money if they pay off a Buy bet at | | | | However, if the casino is the only game in town, |
| true odds (i.e., true odds means there's no built-in | | | | they have you by the balls, so they can get away |
| house advantage)? Ready to get screwed again? | | | | with charging the vig up front. Their philosophy is, "If |
| They tax you! You believe that? A tax! You have to | | | | you don't like it, don't play--but we know you'll play |
| pay for the privilege of getting true odds. This tax is | | | | even if you don't like it." |
| called a "vigorish" or "vig." | | | | To make a Buy bet, drop your chips in the Come |
| John Winn is the father of modern craps. His version | | | | box and tell the dealer the number you want to buy. |
| of the game allowed gambling halls to offer more | | | | The dealer then moves your chips to the point box |
| player-friendly bets in return for a 5% charge. The | | | | in a position that corresponds to your table position |
| worst the gambling halls could do was break even on | | | | (in a manner similar to Place bets) and puts a BUY |
| true odds bets, but they still made money because | | | | button on top. The button tells the boxman and |
| of the added 5% tax. The added charge brought in | | | | camera that you're Buying the number instead of |
| so much money that they soon referred to it as | | | | Placing it. |
| giving vigor to their profits; hence, the term | | | | To help the inexperienced player, some dealers |
| "vigorish." The vig today remains at 5%. | | | | automatically Buy the bet instead of Placing it when |
| Buy bets on the 4 and 10 are always better than | | | | it's to the player's advantage. For example, suppose |
| Placing the 4 and 10. Buy bets on the 5 and 9 may | | | | the guy next to you makes a $25 Place bet on the |
| be better than Placing the 5 and 9, depending on | | | | 10. Being the observant player that you are, you |
| when you pay the vig. However, Place bets on the 6 | | | | notice the dealer move the $25 chip into the 10 point |
| and 8 are always better than Buying the 6 and 8. | | | | box and put a BUY button on it. The guy next to |
| What makes the Buy bet on the 4 and 10 better | | | | you doesn't have a clue that the dealer potentially |
| than a Place bet on the 4 and 10? Suppose you | | | | made him an extra $4 if the bet wins (i.e., a winning |
| make a $10 Place bet on the 4where the Place odds | | | | $25 Buy bet nets $49; whereas, a winning $25 Place |
| are 9:5, which means you win $18 for your $10 bet | | | | bet nets only $45). |
| ($10 divided by 5 = $2, multiplied by 9 = $18). Now, | | | | The Buy bet is best made on the 4 or 10. However, |
| instead of a Place bet, suppose you make a $10 Buy | | | | it can also be advantageous for the 5 and 9 if the |
| bet and pay a $1 vig for the privilege of getting true | | | | casino allows paying the vig after a win instead of up |
| odds, which are 2:1. For a $10 Buy bet on the 4, you | | | | front. For example, suppose you make a $50 Place |
| win $20 but have to pay the $1 vig, which results in | | | | bet on the 5 where the Place odds are 7:5, which |
| a net payoff of $19. Comparing results of the two | | | | means you win $70 for your $50 bet ($50 divided by |
| bets, the winning Place bet nets you $18; whereas, | | | | 5 = $10, multiplied by 7 = $70). Now, instead of a |
| the winning Buy bet nets you $19. | | | | Place bet, suppose you make a $50 Buy bet and pay |
| The Buy bet gets better as your bet amount | | | | a $2 vig for the privilege of getting true odds, which |
| increases. For example, suppose you make a $25 | | | | are 3:2. For a $50 Buy bet on the 5, you win $75 |
| Place bet on the 10, which means you win $45 for | | | | ($50 divided by 2 = $25, multiplied by 3 = $75), but |
| your $25 bet (Place odds are 9:5). Now, suppose you | | | | you have to pay the $2 vig, which results in a net |
| make a $25 Buy bet and pay a $1 vig for the | | | | payoff of $73. Comparing results of the two bets, |
| privilege of getting true odds, which are 2:1. For a $25 | | | | the winning $50 Place bet nets you $70; whereas, |
| Buy bet on the 10, you win $50 but have to pay the | | | | the winning $50 Buy bet nets you $73. If the casino |
| $1 vig, which results in a net payoff of $49. | | | | requires an up-front vig, Placing the 5 or 9 is better |
| Comparing results of the two bets, the winning $25 | | | | than Buying them because the house advantage is |
| Place bet nets you $45; whereas, the winning $25 | | | | lower (i.e., 4.00% for Placing the 5 or 9 versus 4.76% |
| Buy bet nets you $49. | | | | for Buying them with an up-front vig). |
| Notice in the example for the $25 Buy bet that the | | | | The Buy bet isn't smart for the 6 and 8. You should |
| vig is only $1. The 5% vig for a $25 Buy bet actually | | | | always Place the 6 and 8 instead of Buying them. |
| works out to be $1.25, but the casino typically | | | | Let's do the math. As we know, Place bets on the 6 |
| doesn't have chips valued at less than $1, so the vig | | | | or 8 must be in multiples of $6 to get the full Place |
| is rounded down. Generally, vigs with a fraction of 50 | | | | odds of 7:6; and Buy bets on the 6 or 8 must be in |
| cents or less are rounded down, while vigs with a | | | | multiples of $5 to get the full true odds. Therefore, |
| fraction greater than 50 cents are rounded up. | | | | suppose you make a $96 Place bet on the 6 and |
| Therefore, for example, a $50 Buy bet has only a $2 | | | | win, which means you win $112 ($96 divided by 6 = |
| vig even though 5% of $50 is $2.50. But some | | | | $16, multiplied by 7 = $112). Now, instead of a Place |
| casinos won't let you get away with too much of | | | | bet, suppose you make a $95 Buy bet and, when |
| their profit. Suppose you make two separate $50 | | | | you win, pay a $5 vig for the privilege of getting true |
| Buy bets at the same time (e.g., you drop $100 in | | | | odds. For a $95 Buy bet on the 6, you win $114 ($95 |
| the Come box and tell the dealer, "Buy the four and | | | | divided by 5 = $19, multiplied by 6 = $114), but you |
| ten for fifty dollars each.") Instead of rounding down | | | | have to pay the $5 vig, which results in a net payoff |
| the vig for each bet and charging a total vig of $4 | | | | of $109. Comparing results of the two bets, the |
| (i.e., $2 for each $50 bet), the casino may charge you | | | | winning $96 Place bet nets you $112; whereas, the |
| the full $5 vig (i.e., $2.50 for each $50 Buy bet). | | | | winning $95 Buy bet nets you $109. So, for the 6 |
| Most casinos don't charge the vig until after you win | | | | and 8, a Place bet is better than a Buy bet. The |
| the bet. However, some casinos require you to pay | | | | house advantage for Place bets on the 6 and 8 is |
| the vig up front at the time you make the bet. For | | | | lower than Buy bets on the 6 and 8, regardless of |
| example, for a $10 Buy bet on the 4 with an | | | | whether you pay the vig up front or after a win. |
| up-front vig, you must put down $11 when you | | | | Now you know! Remember, learn how to play casino |
| make the bet (i.e., $10 for your bet and $1 for the | | | | craps the right way. |
| vig). If the shooter rolls a 7, you lose $11. However, | | | | |