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