Consider this – Imagine the thrill of taking the win by your own hands. The simple pleasure of being able to throw objects anticipating an outcome. The feeling of being in control. Everyone has rolled a pair of dice at some point in their life, making Craps a very relatable game… once you get the rules down.
Not only are there a number of rules to be mindful of, but there is also a fair degree of etiquette and lingo. It is amazing how much money movement and excitement that two dice can bring.
Today we will explore some of the finer points of the game, to appreciate the depth and variety of betting opportunities that keep Players coming back for another round.
Low limits attract Player engagement
When a Player is shopping for a game, the first thing they do is eyeball the “lollipop sign” to know how much it’s going to cost to play. Most Players would find a $5 minimum an attractive option. As a business, the gaming industry is all about getting people seated in chairs and keeping them there. However, there are no seats for Craps by default, so it really is about eliciting that first bet.
There are a couple ways to get the Player to make the initial wager, especially if they are new to the game. Assuming they noticed the sign concerning the low bet minimum, they might engage the Dealer and ask “How do I play?”.
As a Dealer, I might say to them – “Just place a chip on the PASS LINE and if a 7 or 11 is rolled, you win. Avoid rolling 2, 3, or 12. Eight ways to win and four ways to lose. Pretty good odds, right? Any other number gets marked and you gotta roll it one more time before a 7. Easy game.” The Field Bet is the alternative entry point to the game, offering Players a one-time roll to win if any of the 7 displayed numbers are rolled, with a bonus for rolling a 2 or a 12..
Multiple ways to play give Players a sense of control
The opposite of the PASS LINE bet is the DON’T PASS. This is also referred to as betting from “The Dark Side”. This bet wins when the table loses. Wagering on this tends to attract the ire of the other Players – but the takeaway here is that you have the choice of betting “for” or “against” any given outcome.
The same is true for all the point numbers. It was mentioned earlier that a number can be “marked” meaning that Craps is a game of rounds. Markable numbers, referred to as “Points” can be bet at any time by any Player. They may choose to bet either “for” or “against” that number being rolled before a 7.
Decision fatigue and intimidation
The luxury of choice can be overwhelming and sometimes Players may be intimidated by the layout of the felt, or feel self-conscious about the fact that rolling the dice could result in someone losing money. Fear factors aside, in order to accommodate all the betting possibilities, that is why the Craps table layout has such a “busy” feel about it.
However! The nice thing about Craps given this, is that ANY combination of a roll can be bet. This is where the lingo comes in, and some of the combinations have fun monikers attached to them, making it easier for Players to book wagers with the Dealer while enhancing that Player/Dealer interaction. The most common bets include the Yo, Snake Eyes, and Box Cars.
CONCLUSION
With all the different ways to bet, Craps is an exciting game that allows Players to explore all types of betting possibilities. Through the utilization of excellent Player/Dealer interactions, you will be able to successfully encourage the Player to make multiple bets achieving a much higher handle than the posted bet minimum. The game looks intimidating, but the possibilities are endless.
