Understanding Dice Odds at Online Casinos

2007 July 20, Charlie Black

One of the most exciting games to play at both live and online casino is the dice game known as Craps. Craps features a unique playing surface and a wide range of betting options for punters, creating a game full of action. The main feature of Craps is the dice which are thrown each turn to determine which the winning numbers. While many casual gamblers play Craps for the social aspect, many professionals have a deep understanding of dice and the probabilities associated with each roll. This article will take a closer look at dice odds to help your knowledge at the Craps table.

In a live casino, dice are cubes about three quarters of an inch square, with each side containing spots, known as pips, totaling a number from one to six on each side. The numbers are placed such that the sum of opposite sides of the dice will always total the number seven. So the one and six are always on opposite sides of the dice; the five and two are on opposite sides; as are the three and four. Each number on the dice has an equal chance of being rolled. In an online casino, the dice are represented in the same way, with a random number generator ensuring that the dice results are produced in a fair manner.

The game of Craps uses two dice, so there are 36 (6 x 6) combinations that can appear on the two dice giving totals of between two and twelve. The image below illustrates the 36 different combinations that are possible:

This image shows that there is only one way to make the numbers two (1 and 1) and twelve (6 and 6). Because these numbers are difficult to roll, they offer the largest payouts on the Craps table. Moving on, there are two ways to make the numbers three/eleven, three ways to make four/ten, four ways to make five/nine, five ways to make six/eight, and finally the most commonly rolled number is the number seven which has six different possible combinations.

By understanding the different combinations of numbers that can be made by the dice, you can then work out the odds of making any number before the seven is rolled. Since the seven can be rolled six ways, you divide the number six by the number of ways a number can be rolled.

• Number 3 - 2 combinations = Odds 3:1
• Number 4 - 3 combinations = Odds 2:1
• Number 5 - 4 combinations = Odds 3:2
• Number 6 - 5 combinations = Odds 6:5
• and so on...

By understanding the probabilities of the dice and the associated odds of each number being rolled, you will be able to improve your strategy at the Craps table and maximize your profits!