Craps Lay Bet Guide: What Is It and When to Place it

How to Place a Craps Lay Bet?

For the best odds, players usually wait until after the point has been set to place the lay bet, but that is not strictly necessary.

Placing the lay bet is very straightforward. First, you must decide which number you want to wager against. Then, place your chips in the lay bet section for that number. You can wager on multiple lay numbers at once.

The lay bet is made using true odds, but you still must pay a commission on winnings, also called a vigorish, or vig for short. This is a tax, usually around 5%, that is collected when you place the bet. For a lay bet, the vig is applied to potential winnings on the wager you place.

After your lay bets are placed, all you must do is wait for the shooter. The only numbers that matter are seven and the lay number you wagered on.

Lay Bet Craps Payout and Odds Table

The lay bet offers some of the best odds of any bet in craps. See the table below for the house edge and true payout odds for every lay bet.

There are six options for making the lay bet. However, you will often see them broken into three pairs. This is because the numbers paired together have the same odds of hitting, the same house edge, and the same true odds and payout.

For instance, the shooter has three ways to roll a four and three options for hitting a 10. So, these outcomes have the same house edge and payout for the lay bet.

Also, as the number of outs for a number increases, so do the house edge and payout odds. The payout increases because the shooter’s chance of rolling a seven first decreases. As a result, the vig also increases because you pay the commission based on the potential payout.

1. Pair With the Don’t Come or Don’t Pass Wager

In craps, players generally frown on wagers that go against the shooter. That is why betting against the shooter is commonly known as dark side betting.

The lay bet is one way to bet against the shooter. As mentioned above, you can place the lay bet before the point is set, but it is uncommon.

If you want to wager early, start with the don’t pass and then follow with the lay bet. You can also make the don’t come bet along with the lay bet if you really want to wager against the shooter. For this method, place the lay bet on a number other than the point to increase your winnings if the shooter craps out.

2. Stay Away from 6 and 8

The most significant upside of making the lay bet in craps is that the player gets to take advantage of the true odds for their wager. However, because most casinos charge a commission on these wagers, the house edge can still be higher than most players like.

With that in mind, it is best to keep your lay bets on four or 10 to minimize the house edge. The five and nine bets can also be used if you want the higher payout, but the edge of 3.3% is less than ideal. Due to the house edge being over 4%, it is usually best to stay away from lay bets on the six or eight.

3. Play at No-Commission Tables

No craps bet is perfect, and the commission charged for lay bets will eat into your profits. Luckily, some casinos offer commission-free craps tables.

At these tables, there is no vig attached to the lay bet. As a result, you can bet on the true odds without a penalty.

No commission tables are challenging to find, though. The next best thing is to find tables with a commission rate lower than 5%. A 5% vig is standard, so anything less than 5% can be a major advantage for the player.