Table minimum questions

I'm pretty new to playing craps but after reading and practicing on the Wizard of Odds site, I have played a few sessions and felt comfortable I have a basic understanding of how things work. The other day, I was playing craps at a $5 minimum table. I was making $5 pass line bets, and $5 come bets, and backing up with odds to the extent I was comfortable, but always at least $10 on odds. The time came when the casino raised the table minimum to $10. I was ok with that and raised my pass line bets to $10. The dealers told me I could no longer make $5 come bets even with my $10 pass line bet covering the table minimum. I didn't understand the raising of the come bet minimum when they were allowing center action for $1 on all the sucker bets regardless of table minimum. So my question for the more experienced players out there is: is this a normal way of handling the table minimum in your experience? Would/should this apply to every bet on the table? It just seemed kind of odd to me, and I just decided to make fewer come bets as a result.

Quote: 4andaKicker

is this a normal way of handling the table minimum in your experience? Would/should this apply to every bet on the table?

Yes, that is the usual way. Sometimes they will "grandfather" you and allow you to keep playing at the $5 level and only require new players at the table to meet the revised minimums. Proposition bets do not have to meet the same minimum and also may not be allowed to go as high as the posted maximum.

Quote: 4andaKicker

It just seemed kind of odd to me, and I just decided to make fewer come bets as a result.

The whole game of craps is odd :)

Seriously, I'm about as inexperienced as you are, but it is the usual way. I saw two raisings of the minimums, and all new players (I was allowed to keep to the old minimum both times), were required to make pass and come bets at the new minimum (and don't pass and don't come bets as well).

You can stop making come bets and place numbers instead. For example, you said you do a $5 pass with $10 odds...that is the equivalent of placing an outside number (4, 5,9,10) for $15 and the inside numbers (6,8) for $12. Most likely you are influenced by the Wizard's strategy and will only make continuous come bets...so just pretend you have an imaginary come bet and then place the number that is rolled as if your come bet traveled to that number. The payouts will be the same...

There is a reason the game is called CRAPs.

Thanks to all for your answers. I have been influenced by the Wizard but I find the continuous come bets too risky and expensive. I make 2 come bets and replace them as they pay, and only take odds on 6 and 8. It has been fun playing this way because I usually have half the numbers covered and if the dreaded 7 out happens right after the point is established, at least I salvage something with the come bet out there. So far, I've been enjoying craps far more than I ever did blackjack, and the chance to make some serious money with just a little good luck seems to always be alive in craps. Good luck everyone!

You've stumbled upon one of my favorite sayings:

Whenever a casino allows you to place a bet for less than the table minimum, ask yourself "Why?..."


At the craps table, the "crap in the middle" are all sucker bets, every bit as much as any of the side bets on other table games. They are all high house edge. As such, they don't want to discourage the action by applying a table minimum.