Las Vegas is witnessing a resurgence in the popularity of crapless craps tables. This particular game, also known as never ever craps, has a rich history that dates back several decades to its origins at Bob Stupak's Vegas World, now famously recognized as The Strat. Notably, The Strat continues to offer this unique gambling experience to its patrons. Interestingly, in recent times, The Strat stood alone as the sole Las Vegas casino to provide this intriguing game to eager gamblers.
In the past couple of years, Harrah's decided to bring in a unique addition to their casino floor near the south entrance - a crapless craps table. It seems that the idea resonated well because Luxor was the next casino to follow suit and introduce this game. Perhaps it performed exceptionally during testing at Harrah's. Soon enough, other casinos like Excalibur, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, New York-New York, and Park MGM caught wind of the craze and hopped on board, installing these tables as well. What's interesting is that during quieter hours, the minimum bet for this unconventional craps variant tends to be around $10, unlike the traditional craps tables in these same establishments, which usually require a minimum bet of $10 or $15.
In most casinos, the traditional game is offered on multiple tables alongside crapless craps. Occasionally, when only one table is available, it may be the one with crapless craps.
Can you explain the concept of crapless craps?
Crapless craps, an exciting variant of the traditional game, adds a touch of amusement to the casino experience. In this version, players are relieved from the risk of losing a pass line bet when the come-out roll occurs. With a stroke of luck, if the dice displays a 7, the player emerges victorious. However, should any other number come up, it automatically becomes the point of focus for subsequent rounds.
When the come out roll results in an 11, the pass line doesn't automatically win. Similar to the numbers 2, 3, and 12, these numbers become points that need to be achieved before a 7 is rolled in order to secure a victory. Losing occurs if the 7 shows up before the point. The same principle applies to come bets.
On a crapless craps table, you won't find the typical prop and place bets. Those bets related to the dark side, like the don't pass and don't come bets, are simply absent in this version of the game.
Having the inability to lose during the initial roll is an excellent marketing strategy. Nevertheless, there are repercussions attached to it.
In the realm of crapless craps, the pass line bet holds a rather steep house edge of 5.38%, in stark contrast to the mere 1.41% edge found in its traditional counterpart. This disparity signifies a noticeable discrepancy of $0.40 on each occasion a settlement is made with a $10 wager in the absence of any odds.
According to the Wizard of Odds, by placing odds on the 3-4-5 times tables, one can effectively counterbalance a significant portion of the disadvantage. Taking the maximum odds allows one to regain the edge of the line bet, even when playing a conventional game without any odds.
The house edge at The Strat's crapless craps tables, where they offer 10 times odds, is equivalent to a standard craps game with maximum odds.
At Harrah's, you can enjoy the opportunity to bet with 1-2-3-4-5 times the odds. The odds for rolling a 2 or 12 are particularly enticing, as they pay out at a solid 6:1 ratio. Meanwhile, if you land on a 3 or 11, you'll receive a generous 3:1 payout. As for the rest of the numbers, the standard 3-4-5 times odds apply. However, if you're looking for a slightly different odds structure, you can head over to Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, New York-New York, or Park MGM. These establishments offer a 3-4-5 times odds setup, with a twist. Here, the three times odds extend to the 2, 3, 11, and 12. Moreover, all of these casinos provide true odds, ensuring a fair and transparent gaming experience.
In crapless craps, the pass line bets have an extended duration compared to regular craps due to the unique format. Unlike traditional craps, where a pass line bet is immediately resolved by rolling a 2, 3, 11, or 12 on the come out, crapless craps requires the number to be made or a 7 to be rolled before the line bet is resolved. This means that every six come out rolls, these numbers become the point, with the same probability as a winning 7.
In traditional craps, the house edge remains the same for payouts on place bets, buys, and props. Opting to exclusively place these bets ensures that the odds remain consistent with a standard game.
What are the reasons behind the resurgence of crapless craps?
Operating craps can be quite costly. It involves the employment of three dealers, a breaker, and incurring expenses related to beverage service. Additionally, numerous tables have supervisors solely dedicated to overseeing the game. The current pandemic has further exacerbated these expenses, especially at craps tables with restricted capacity. It appears to be the most probable reason behind the increased costs.
At present, Las Vegas casinos are compelled to reduce the maximum count of players permitted at a craps table by roughly fifty percent. This reduction in players directly impacts the potential revenue generated by the table. In order to ensure profitability amidst the current tourism decline, there are essentially two options available: raise the minimum bet (which may not be feasible given the market conditions) or elevate the house edge. The latter option is being implemented to achieve this objective. By increasing the house edge, the casino aims to offset the financial implications of having fewer players at the table.
Should this trend gain popularity, I predict it will evolve into the ultimate solution for craps, known as the triple zero roulette.