Buy Bets
| Updated: Craps Buy Bets: Rules and Odds
The game of craps is one of the most varied games you will find on the casino floor. You can often spot the craps table by the number of spectators, who frequently outnumber the players. Indeed, craps is one of the most popular casino games, and one of its main advantages is the wide range of betting options available. Each bet type offers different payout ratios and odds, allowing you to experience the game in several ways.
In this article, we explain how buy bets work. Below, you will find details about the wagers themselves, the house edge and odds, and whether this type of bet is worth considering.
As explained below, buy bets involve wagering on an individual number, with the available options being 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. If the selected number is rolled before 7, buy bets pay at true odds. However, players generally need to pay a 5% commission when their bets win.
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Buy Bets Explained
Buy bets are wagering options on the craps table that bear some resemblance to place bets, which we cover in a separate article. The main difference between place and buy bets is the payout. A typical place bet pays at odds that are close to, but lower than, the true odds. Buy bets pay at true odds, but there is a catch: when a buy bet wins, you generally have to pay a commission equal to 5% of the amount wagered.
This commission is known as the “vig” or “vigorish” in casino gambling. Buy bets get their name from the fact that you are paying for the benefit of receiving a true-odds payout. Although this may sound contradictory, buy bets can still be among the more favorable wagers on the craps table in terms of house edge.
At land-based casinos, you announce that you want to place a buy bet. You place your chips where the stickman instructs you, after which the chips are moved into position and marked with a “Buy” button. Once the bet is resolved and you win, the stickman gives you your winnings and collects the house commission. Because most casinos do not offer chip denominations lower than one dollar, the commission may be rounded according to the casino’s rules, and the minimum charge may be $1. At online casinos, the process is more streamlined because the software handles the bet and commission automatically.
You have several numbers to choose from when placing a buy bet: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. However, some numbers offer better payouts than others. Like place bets, buy bets are “standing bets,” so they are not automatically lost on the first roll of the dice. Buy bets can remain on the table until the selected number is rolled or a roll totals 7. Keep in mind that buy bets may have minimum wagering requirements, depending on the casino or, in the case of online casinos, the software provider.
Buying the 4 and the 10
Buying the 4 and/or the 10 is generally the most worthwhile buy bet on the craps table, both in terms of odds and payout. With this wager, you are betting that your selected number, 4 or 10, will be rolled before 7. A winning buy bet on 4 or 10 pays at odds of 2:1, whereas a place bet on the same numbers pays 9:5. As a result, buy bets are generally preferable when wagering on these numbers.
Buying the 5 and the 9
Buy bets on 5 and 9 pay at true odds of 3:2. Generally speaking, this is the middle option among buy bets, offering less favorable odds than 4 and 10 but better odds than 6 and 8. Whether this bet is worthwhile depends on how the casino applies its commission. If the commission is charged only on winning bets, the buy bet may be preferable to the equivalent place bet. We discuss this in more detail below.
Buying the 6 and the 8
The 6 and 8 buy bets are the third and final pair of buy bet options found on the craps table. These bets offer the least favorable odds and payouts among the available buy bets. Unlike the previous two pairs, buy bets on 6 and 8 pay only 6:5. This means that for every $10 wagered, you stand to win $12 before the commission is charged. Compared with the equivalent place bet, buying the 6 or 8 results in a lower net payout under the commission model described here.
Buy Bets Odds and House Edge
As mentioned previously, buy bets are among the more favorable craps wagers in terms of odds. Unlike many other betting options, buy wagers pay at true odds, meaning the payout reflects the probability of winning the bet. However, the commission creates a house advantage. In this section, we discuss the mathematical aspects of buy bets.
Although buy bets carry a commission, land-based casinos may apply it differently. Some establishments charge the commission regardless of the outcome, while others collect it only when the bet wins. A few casinos may calculate it differently or waive it on particular buy bets. For the purposes of this guide, we use a 5% commission on the original wager that is collected only when the bet wins.
For comparison, the equivalent place bet pays 9:5. A winning $20 place bet on 4 or 10 produces a profit of $36. Although a $3 difference may not seem substantial, it becomes more significant over repeated wagers. The place bet on 4 or 10 has a house edge of 6.67%, which is considerably higher than the buy bet’s 1.67% house edge.
The 5/9 buy bet is where the comparison becomes more interesting. This bet has a payout ratio of 3:2 and still carries a 5% commission on winning wagers. A winning $100 bet produces a profit of $150 before commission. After paying the $5 commission, you receive a net profit of $145. This translates into a 2% house edge when the commission is charged only on wins. The 5/9 place bet, on the other hand, pays 7:5, which is lower than the buy bet payout. A winning $100 place bet on 5 or 9 produces a profit of $140, and the house edge is 4%. The main point is that buying the 5 or 9 can be worthwhile if the casino charges the commission only on winning bets. If the commission is charged on every wager, the place option may be preferable.
Finally, the 6/8 buy bet has a payout ratio of 6:5. A winning $120 buy bet on 6 or 8 produces a profit of $144 before commission. After the $6 commission is charged, the net profit is $138. This results in a house edge of approximately 2.27%, provided that the commission is charged only on winning bets. For comparison, the 6/8 place bet pays 7:6, so a winning $120 place bet produces a profit of $140 and has a house edge of 1.52%. This makes the 6/8 place bet more worthwhile than its buy bet counterpart. The odds shift even further in favor of the place bet if the casino charges commission on all buy wagers, regardless of the outcome.
Are Buy Bets Worth It?
Buy bets are among the better wagers available on the craps table, but you should always consider how the commission is applied. Although buy bets offer true-odds payouts, the vig takes away part of the potential profit and creates the house edge. Even after the commission is charged, however, some buy bets remain more favorable than their place bet equivalents.
The commission can also make small wagers less appealing. A 5% vigorish may not sound substantial, but the effect changes when the casino imposes a minimum commission of $1. Because land-based casinos generally do not offer chips in denominations lower than $1, the commission may be rounded to a whole-dollar amount. For wagers of $20 or less, the minimum commission may therefore be $1, depending on the casino’s rules.
Another factor to consider is that some buy bets have a higher house edge than the corresponding place bets. The place bet on 6 or 8 has a lower casino advantage than the equivalent buy bet, although the difference is relatively small. Buying the 5 or 9 may also be less favorable than placing those numbers if the commission is charged on all bets rather than only on winning ones. However, buying the 4 or 10 is generally a better choice than placing those numbers, with the exact difference depending on how the commission is charged.
You should review the other betting options available at the craps table before deciding which wagers suit you. On our website, we provide guides covering the main aspects of craps, so be sure to explore the other craps bet types.
Conclusion
Overall, buy bets are among the simpler wagers available in craps. The game’s wide range of betting options allows players to choose wagers with different payouts and house edges. Buy bets can be useful when selected carefully, but some are more favorable than others. Buying the 4 or 10 is generally preferable to placing those numbers, while place bets on 6 or 8 offer a lower house edge than their buy bet equivalents. Before placing your chips, consider the payout, house edge, and commission rules used by the casino.