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Craps "Odds" Bet: Page 4 of Sample Learning How to Play Craps

- DICE ILLUSTRATED -

That is why, if you ever decide to play this game, it is in your benefit to know that MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM LIMITS ON THE AMOUNTS IN ALL CRAPS WAGERS ARE SET COMPLETELY AT EACH CASINO'S OWN DISCRETION. Simply put, you will find HUGE variations between the "ODDS" to "FLAT" ratios of the casinos because each individual casino arbitrarily sets its own limits on table games.

"The ACHILLES' HEEL of CRAPS"

The game of casino craps was conceived long ago, when few people in the gambling business could possibly foresee the fierce competition amongst today's casinos. For years, more and more casinos have been steadily increasing "ODDS" to "FLAT" ratios in favor of the players. These changes have a profound influence on both the potential profit of the craps player and on HOW the overall game is played. When casinos increase these ratios beyond critical parameters (in favor of the bettors) it has an enormous impact on a very old game whose infrastructure was NOT designed to handle such alterations.

High "ODDS" to "FLAT" ratios completely transform the game's fundamental structure. Since "ODDS" to "FLAT" ratios can vary so much from one casino to another, any player who chooses to wage these particular NUMBER bets would be wise to find casinos that offer the HIGHEST ratios in his or her favor. The ratio LIMIT you will see in most casinos is "DOUBLE ODDS," which means the "ODDS" bet maximum limit is two (2) times the amount of the "FLAT" bet on the posted table. That's a maximum of TWO in the "ODDS" bet for each ONE in the "FLAT" bet.

In today's casinos, 2 to 1 "ODDS" to "FLAT" ratios are "no big deal" at all. Many casinos in Las Vegas have craps tables that routinely allow the following ratios: "5X ODDS" (in which the "ODDS" bet can be up to 5 times the amount in the "FLAT" bet); "10X ODDS" (in which the "ODDS" bet can be up to 10 times the amount in the "FLAT" bet); "20X ODDS" (in which the "ODDS" bet can be up to 20 times the amount in the "FLAT" bet); and (NOT so routinely) "100X ODDS" (in which the "ODDS" bet can be up to 100 times the amount in the "FLAT" bet).

These "ODDS" LIMIT factors are posted on identical signs at each end of the craps table located on the inside wall near the two dealers facing the players. The signs are usually approximately 5 inches high by 7 inches wide. Posted on each sign are also the overall MINIMUM and MAXIMUM bet limits for the table, along with the MAXIMUM "ODDS" to "FLAT" ratio allowed on that individual table. "ODDS" to "FLAT" ratios are usually the largest text on the signs. Note: Some larger casinos are now concealing ratios by no longer displaying any "X ODDS" signs on their craps tables.

Again, if you choose to play these types of craps bets, you would be very wise to seek craps tables with HIGH "ODDS" to "FLAT" ratios and LOW limits on MINIMUM wagers. This allows for the SMALLEST possible amounts at risk in the "FLAT" bets proportionate to the amounts at risk in their "ODDS" bets. It is strictly a matter of increasing your percentage of return on risked investment when playing Casino Craps.

This is the conclusion of the DICE ILLUSTRATED craps book sample.

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