Craps place bets explained

What craps place bets are

A place bet is the most direct way to back a number in craps. You choose one of the six point numbers, put your chips on it, and it stays there until either that number rolls (you win) or a 7 rolls (you lose). Every other total leaves it untouched. Unlike a come bet, you choose the number yourself instead of waiting for the dice to assign one.

That control has a price. A place bet pays less than true odds, and the shortfall is bigger on some numbers than others. The Wizard of Odds house edge table (opens in a new tab) puts place 6 and 8 at 1.52% per bet resolved, 5 and 9 at 4.00%, and 4 and 10 at 6.67%. Picking the right numbers is the single biggest decision on this bet.

Place bet payouts and house edge by number

Each edge comes from the gap between the true odds and the payout. On a 6, the true odds are 6 to 5 (1.20 to 1) but the bet pays 7 to 6 (about 1.17 to 1). On a 4, the true odds are 2 to 1 but the bet pays 9 to 5 (1.80 to 1), which is a much wider gap. Our true odds vs payout odds page explains the idea across all games.

Checking each place bet's edge yourself

You can confirm every figure with nothing but dice counting. Only two totals settle a place bet: its number and 7, which has 6 ways to roll.

• Place 6 for £6: 5 wins of £7 and 6 losses of £6 in every 11 decisions. That is £35 − £36 = −£1 over £66 staked, or 1.52%.
• Place 5 for £5: 4 wins of £7 and 6 losses of £5 in every 10 decisions. That is £28 − £30 = −£2 over £50, or 4.00%.
• Place 4 for £5: 3 wins of £9 and 6 losses of £5 in every 9 decisions. That is £27 − £30 = −£3 over £45, or 6.67%.

Place bets can stay up for many rolls without a decision, so edges are also quoted per roll. Place 6 or 8 works out at 0.46% per roll against 1.52% per bet resolved. We use per bet resolved here, as that is the standard way to compare bets.

Place bet unit sizes in pounds

The odd-looking payouts work best with matching stakes. On 6 and 8, bet in multiples of £6 so the 7 to 6 payout is a whole number. On 4, 5, 9 and 10, bet in multiples of £5. If your stake doesn't divide neatly, the game may round the payout down, which quietly raises your cost, so check the help screen.

Placing all six numbers, sometimes called 'across', at £5 or £6 each puts £32 on the layout at a blended cost that is well above the 6 and 8 alone. A single 7 removes all six bets in one roll.

How to make a place bet online

1. Decide your stake per number before the roll, using £6 units on 6 or 8 and £5 units elsewhere.
2. Click the chip value, then click the box for your number on the layout's place area.
3. Check whether your bet is 'on' or 'off' for the next come-out roll; the game's settings or help screen will say.
4. When your number rolls, collect the win; the original stake usually stays up for the next roll.
5. Take the bet down whenever you like, as place bets can be removed between rolls.

At many land-based tables, place bets are treated as off during a come-out roll unless you call them on, so a 7 then doesn't lose them. Online games set their own default, which is why step three matters.

Place bets compared with buy bets and Big 6 or 8

Three bets on the layout can back the same number in different ways. Buy bets pay true odds but charge a 5% commission. Big 6 and Big 8 pay even money and sit in the corner of the table.

The pattern is clear. On 6 and 8, the place bet is cheapest. On 4 and 10, a buy bet with commission charged only on wins is far cheaper than placing. For example, buying the 4 for £20 pays £40 at true odds, less £1 commission, so you collect £39 profit when it wins. If the table charges commission up front whether you win or not, the buy bet costs 4.76% and placing the 5 or 9 at 4.00% is cheaper. The vigorish glossary entry explains commission.

Place bets or come bets with odds?

If your aim is to have several numbers working, compare place bets with a pass line bet or come bet plus craps odds bet. The line bet costs 1.41% and the odds cost nothing, so the combination is cheaper than placing any number, 6 and 8 included, and the gap widens as you add odds. The advantage of placing is speed and choice: you get the exact number you want straight away, and you can remove it whenever you like.

A reasonable budget-minded approach is to stick to line bets with odds and, if you want extra action, to place only the 6 and 8. Our craps strategy page sets out that thinking without pretending any mix beats the house.

Pressing, regression and other place bet myths

'Pressing' means increasing a place bet after a win, often by adding the winnings. 'Regressing' means cutting it down after the first hit. Both are just staking choices. Each roll is independent, as the independent events principle explains, so neither changes the edge on any single bet.

• Myth: a number that has rolled several times is 'hot' and worth pressing. Dice have no memory.
• Myth: 4 and 10 are better because they pay 9 to 5. Higher payouts here come with a far higher cost.
• Myth: placing across the board covers you. It just multiplies the money exposed to a single 7.
• Mistake: forgetting place bets left up when the shooter changes. Review the layout before every come-out.

Craps place bets at UK live and RNG tables

Place bet payouts are standard, but online games can differ on buy commission, whether bets work on the come-out, and table limits. Evolution's live craps and dice range (opens in a new tab) and its First Person titles are examples of studio and RNG formats; paytables vary between games, so read the rules before staking. The live craps UK page covers formats.

UK rules apply to every licensed craps game. There's no autoplay on any online casino game, non-slot games must allow at least 5 seconds per game cycle, and the slot stake caps of £2 and £5 don't apply to tables. Your net spend and time played must be shown as you play, and you can set limits at any time. See our UK rules hub.

Where to play craps place bets

None of our partners' welcome offers is designed for craps. Casumo's bonus has game restrictions, 10bet's is wagered on slots and Coral's spins are slot spins, so table and live games are often excluded or count for less. Check each casino's game lobby for craps tables. 18+ and terms apply.

• Casumo: 50% bonus up to £100, minimum first deposit £20, opt-in; wager 10x within 7 days, £5 maximum bet while active.
• 10bet: 100% bonus up to £25; select it at sign-up, deposit within 7 days, wager 10x on slots within 3 days; maximum bonus winnings £1,000, Skrill and Neteller deposits excluded.
• Coral: bet £10 on slots for 100 free spins worth 10p each on selected games; accept within 48 hours, valid 7 days, no wagering on spin winnings, certain payment methods excluded.

Before you play, set a limit you are happy to lose. If gambling is causing worry, the NHS gambling support page (opens in a new tab) and the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) can help.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.