Craps A to Z Series, "O" is For Outside Bets

by Larry Edell, published on Sunday, September 1 2002

Placing the outside numbers (4, 5, 9 and 10) offers higher payoffs than the 6 or 8 because they don’t roll as often. The vigs are higher too - for the 4 and 10 the casino advantage is 6.6% and for the 5 and nine it’s 4.4%. But is there is a way to bet outside so they produce better profits? Let’s find out! To turn these outside numbers into profit makers you need to buy them all instead of place them. You should be able to buy the four and ten for $39 each and only pay $1 vig. Likewise you should be able to buy the five and nine for $38 dollars each and also only pay $1 each to do so. Be sure to ask the dealer first if this is OK. If not, just wait for a different dealer or go to another table. You should also play at a casino that only takes the vigs on winning bets. This way, you’ll shave the casino edge down to it’s very minimum and win more money and comps. If you have $38 each on the five and nine and, $39 each on the four and ten, you will win $57 on the 5/9 and $78 on the 4/10. In 36 theoretical rolls, you should win 14 times - 3 times each on the four and ten, and four times each on the five and nine. So you should win a total of $924 ($468 + $456). The seven, however, should roll six times and if you somehow manage to have all four bets up each time it does, you lose $154 ($38 x 2 + $39 x 2) each for a grand total of, surprise, $924 (6 x $154). Assuming you play at a casino that only charges the vig when you win, this means all you’re out is $14 in vig for your 14 wins. This also means you are a $150 player for a half hour or so and all it costs you is $14. This is a terrific way to get comps! And it gets better. You don’t have to leave all four bets up until they all lose to the seven. If you take all four bets down if any one hits you’ll be way ahead - and still get the comps! You have $154 on the table (to maximize comps), are playing at a good casino (that only charges vig on winning bets) and are taking your bets down after one hit (to minimize sevens and maximize profits). Craps doesn’t get much better than this! The next time you play, give this Outside Numbers System a try!