What Are Buy Bets in Craps?

Craps buy bets are one of three types of craps bets where you must pay the casino a commission (vig) to place. This is because you’re getting what’s known as ‘true odds.’ For buy bets, the casino pays the gambler winnings based on the real chances of rolling that specific number before losing. 

If this seems confusing, then continue reading below as we further explain what craps buy bets are and how to bet them at the best online craps sites.

What are Buy Bets?

A buy bet is any bet placed on a specific number from 4 to 10, except 7. You can ‘buy’ a number for the next few rolls, until the shooter craps out.

Each player pays the vig, or upfront cost of placing the bet, and may remove or add to the bet each roll until the shooter craps out, meaning that they’ve rolled a losing number. If you win, you can keep your bet on the table or cash the bet out. 

Buy Bet Odds 

Buy bets have true odds and, rather than a house edge, you’ll pay to place the bet. This craps bet gets a return based on the number you choose. 

Because of the payout to frequency ratio, the four and ten are often considered the top two craps buy bets. The house edge is still 4.76% because of the 5% commission vig charged when you place the bet. If you place a $100 bet, you’ll pay a $5 vig. 

Losing a Buy Bet

You’ll place your buy bet after the come out roll. This means that after a point number is established you’ll bet a buy number. At some online casinos, you can place buy bets first by ‘calling on,’ but it’s ill-advised and changes your betting odds for the worse. If the shooter rolls a seven and craps out, all buy bets lose.

Some casinos only charge a vig if you lose. In these scenarios, the house edge drops based on other circumstances, such as betting multipliers. 

Craps Buy Bet Strategy

Which buy bet should you choose and why?

Let’s look at different craps buy bet strategies and determine why you might use them. Additionally, you will learn how craps buy bets fit in with other craps bets. 

Buy Bets Instead of Place bets for the Iron Cross

The Iron Cross is a high wager betting strategy that involves the field bet. If you’re comfortable paying the vig, you can use buy bets instead of place bets for a better payout on the Iron Cross. This craps buy vs place bet strategy will effectively drop the house edge to under 2%. You can get a detailed look at the Iron Cross in our field bet guide. 

Bet 4 or 10

The odds and the return on these bets are lucrative enough to stand alone. Some players like to ‘bet the outsides’ meaning buying both a four and a ten at the same time, seeing a return on these two bets.

For a 2:1 return, you only need to see either number once to make your bet back, minus the vig.

This gives you a 26.3% chance of a return. Be warned, multiple buy bets lose on seven, so you risk losing both bets and multiple vigs all on one roll.

Coupling Buys and a Pass Line Bet

It’s common to bet both the pass line and other craps bets. Your opening pass line bet will cover whatever the point is, and then you’ll buy some other number, effectively winning on both the pass line and the buy (with a better return on your buy bet.) 

The Best Online Casino For Placing Craps Buy Bets 

Craps buy bets are one of the more lucrative methods of betting at a craps online casino table. If you are looking to try out the strategies above, or to improve your skills at this popular online casino game, then head over to Bovada.

Bovada is a popular choice for craps players as it’s a safe online casino that offers a wonderful craps experience. Furthermore, this online casino allows you to play craps for free. So, when you feel that you are ready to apply these buy bet craps strategies, you can choose to play for real money.

Another great reason to play craps at Bovada is due to their casino bonuses. Bovada offers a welcome bonus up to $3000 for new casino players. This free money can go a long way when playing craps. Longtime Bovada members can also receive reload bonuses especially when choosing crypto as the deposit method.