Craps, like other games, features a built-in house advantage that many players try and beat. While there are many strategies out there, the Lay bet has become a wager that players have put to good use. How? Keep reading to find out!
WHAT IS THE CRAPS LAY BET SYSTEM?
New players may find craps Lay bets a little challenging to place as they play as they are some of the few wagers with a vig. But, once players understand how to place a Lay bet, how this bet loses, and what it takes to earn winning Lay bets, it’s pretty much plain sailing. And that’s what we’re here for!
- The Lay bet strategy describes the utilisation of Lay bets to potentially beat the casino advantage.
- Lay bets are used in online casinos to allow players to benefit from true odds on rolling a seven before the point number is rolled. For this reason, the players bet on laying the odds after the point number is rolled; it is not recommended to place a Lay bet during the Come Out roll phase.
- The Lay bet is considered to be the exact opposite of the Buy bet. So, while both have a vig, Buy bets wager on a six rolling before the next seven, whereas Lay bets wager that a six won’t roll before a seven.
Some players refer to the Lay bet as a ‘No bet’. If the number players bet on has not rolled in some time, they can place their chips inside the Come box to make a deposit and ask the dealer for a ‘No number’. The dealer will go on to place players’ chips in the appropriate box and place a Lay button on top of it. So, the next time a player’s selected number does not roll, the payoff will be based on the true odds of that same number.
The Lay bet strategy is also known as the Dark Sider strategy.
HOW DOES THE CRAPS LAY BET STRATEGY WORK?
To see how the Lay bet works, let’s take a look at the following example.
Suppose a player places a Lay bet on the number eight. Then, the shooter rolls the numbers four, nine, 10, seven, five and eight. As we know, a Lay bet wins if the selected number is rolled after a seven, which, if we consider the order of dice rolls, is exactly what happened in this example. So, in this case, the bet would win.
Suppose in this next example; the shooter throws a six, 10, five, four, eight, three, seven and two. Since the eight was rolled before the seven, players would lose their bet.
Now that you can see how the Lay bet can win and lose, here’s how the Lay bet strategy works:
You’ll begin by opening with a Don’t Come bet. A Don’t Come bet pays after the point is established, and a seven is rolled after the shooter rolls the point again. You will then follow up this wager with a Lay bet. Choosing the point is not recommended if you’ve got a winning Don’t Come or Don’t Pass bet. Instead, this strategy dictates that you select the four or 10 (for low-risk bets), and a six or an eight for a greater payout.
HOW TO PLACE BETS IN CRAPS LAY BET SYSTEM?
The thing about playing online craps is that placing bets is super easy, especially when playing online. Learning how such a bet works may take a few tries, but actually placing your chips on a specific number is a no-brainer.
Here is how to go about placing a Lay bet in craps:
- Select one of the different-coloured chips to set your bet value.
- Decide which number you would like to place your bet on.
- If you’re playing live, it is important that you place your bet within the limited time frame.
- As opposed to other bets available on the craps table, the Lay bet requires you to pay a vig, which is a small fee for better odds. Generally, casinos charge 5% on potential winning bets, but you may encounter different casino games charging different fees. No-vig options may also be available, effectively slicing the house edge/ casino advantage on the Lay bet to 2% or lower.
CRAPS LAY BET PAYOUTS
Out of all craps bets available, the Lay bet has particularly interesting bet odds. Because the Lay bet does not involve betting on one particular number, Lay bets odds vary depending on the number you’re betting on. Here’s a quick table to help you visualise:
| Bet | Payout | Odds of Winning | House Edge |
| 4 or 10 | 1:2 | 66.66% | 2.44% |
| 5 or 9 | 2:3 | 60.00% | 3.23% |
| 6 or 8 | 5:6 | 54.55% | 4.00% |
As you can see, a bet on four or 10 offers a payout of 1:2 with 66.66% odds of winning and a house edge of 2.44%. Similarly, a bet on five or nine offers a payout of 2:3 with 60% odds of winning and a house edge of 3.23%. Lastly, a bet on six or eight offers a payout of 5:6 with 54.55% odds of winning and a house edge of 4%.
A common misconception is that since Lay bets pay true odds, they have no house edge. And, while Lay bets do offer true odds, the house edge rises because of the 5% commission rate.
ADVANTAGES OF CRAPS LAY BET SYSTEM
Want to know why you should place Lay bets in the first place? Here’s how you can benefit:
- Craps Lay bets are among the easiest bets to place as they can be placed at any time.
- Lay bets are independent of the Come Out roll and anything else that happens on the craps table.
- This wager ties in well with craps strategies as players are more likely to win than lose with a Lay bet.
- It can be combined with other wagers that come with low house edges, especially when supported by Odds bets.
It’s pretty safe to say that the Lay bet is quite a good choice.
DISADVANTAGES OF THE CRAPS LAY BET SYSTEM
Like any other wager, the Lay bet also comes with its pitfalls:
- Although players are more likely to win than lose, the Lay bet is not the most popular stake as it can be a little confusing to place.
- The payout is a bit unconventional as the potential winnings are lower than the amount that needs to be wagered.
- This strategy does not work in the long run as players cannot beat the house edge. So, the Lay bet strategy will lose at some point.
- The Lay bet requires wagering a large sum of money.
- The Lay bet charges a 5% commission (vig).
At the end of the day, whether the disadvantages outweigh the advantages is totally up to you and your playing style.
CRAPS LAY BET SYSTEM STRATEGY TIPS
This betting strategy is great for understanding the nuts and bolts of the Lay bet, especially considering how many misconceptions are wrapped around such an easy bet. Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind:
- The Lay bet is similar to the Pass Line and Buy Bet combos.
- It is recommended that you place a Lay bet in the next roll phase after point numbers are established.
- Maximise the number of chances you have before the shooter rolls a seven. There is no way to predict when a seven will roll onto the table, so place the Lay bet early.
- Looking at temporary trends might be helpful, just keep in mind that the variance will eventually correct itself over time.
- The lay bet requires a large sum of money to be bet, so be sure to have a good money management system in place.
- If you can’t seem to figure out this betting option but are scared of risking more money, practise it in the demo mode! Load up an online game of craps and fire up this free-play version to place wagers using virtual funds.
These tips will be excellent additions to your tool kit, so be sure to keep them handy the next time you fire up your favourite craps game and roll the dice in land-based casinos or online ones!
THE IMPORTANCE OF A BANKROLL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH THE LAY BET STRATEGY
It is no secret that craps is an exciting game to play, but players tend to get lost in all that excitement. The Lay bet requires large wagers, and the house advantage will always be present, which is why the use of a bankroll management strategy is crucial.
The purpose of a bankroll management strategy is to safeguard your funds while setting limits on your betting. A system like this will help you recognise when it is time to take a break from throwing dice and give your bankroll a rest. Fire gameplay is fun and all, but it can be quite easy to get burned.
WHICH PLAYERS DO WE RECOMMEND THIS SYSTEM TO?
In truth, this strategy is recommended for players that have a good understanding of the game in general. Wagers like these often confuse players, so newbies are better off placing simpler stakes like the Pass and Don’t Pass wagers, as well as the Come and Don’t Come stakes.
That said, turning a Lay bet into a winning bet is not rocket science! Go through a few rounds in the demo game mode to find your footing, and you’ll be rolling hot numbers in no time.
WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVES TO THE LAY BET SYSTEM?
The Lay bet system is one of many strategies out there. If you’re interested in giving a few of them a whirl, check out:
- The Iron Cross strategy.
- The 6 and 8 strategy.
- Hedge Betting strategy.
- Put bet strategy.
SUMMARY
Take a look at the highlights of this strategy:
- The Lay bet is the opposite of the Buy bet.
- It is recommended to place this wager after the Come Out roll.
- Lay wagers pay true bet odds but charge a 5% commission.
- The win amount is determined by which numbers are wagered on.
- A player bets on the Lay Odds by placing the Lay button on any other number besides the seven.
Don’t hesitate to put this strategy to practice at EnergyCasino — one of the hottest online casinos in the biz!