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Crapless craps was an invention by Bob Stupack for Vegas World. Indeed, initially, crapless craps was an exclusive game for Vegas World.
But the game was mostly non-existent in Las Vegas casinos just a few years ago. That changed over the past year as casino operators started to add a table or two of the craps variant to casino floors.
Then, COVID-19 forced casino operators to change what they offer guests. Unfortunately, for gamblers, this is translating to games with higher minimum bets and/or larger house edges. Crapless craps offer casinos the latter.
Crapless craps has a larger house edge than the traditional game. Since the games look the same at first glance it’s important for players to make sure they’re at the correct table.
What is crapless craps?
Crapless craps is a twist on the traditional craps game most have seen on casino floors. However, this version has more points and a higher house edge for the casino.
On the surface, crapless craps looks very similar to the original game of craps. But playing the two games is slightly different.
Come out roll
To start, there’s no “crapping out” during the come-out roll. The reason for this is that the 2, 3, 11, and 12 are points. There’s no crapping out because the craps numbers are points. The 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 are still points in crapless craps.
A big change on the come-out roll is that there’s no extra payment for rolling an 11. In traditional craps, rolling an 11 on the come-out roll pays 1-1. In crapless craps this number is a regular point like every other number on the dice.
This is the first step in removing the fun of craps. There is no yo (11) in crapless craps.
Plenty of people enjoy playing craps because they can yell out “Gimme a yo!” There’s something particularly fun about tossing a chip to the middle of the craps table and speaking louder than normal. That’s craps.
The house edge for the casino on the come-out roll in crapless craps is 5.382% according to Wizard of Odds. For comparison, a line bet in traditional craps is 1.41%.
Similar to traditional craps games, the crapless version has different odds for each number. For example, The Strat offers 10x odds on points. Other casinos may offer the traditional 3x-4x-5x odds.
This is just the beginning. The number rolled on the come-out roll is the point and the game continues.
Once the point is established
Once the point is established, crapless craps plays like a traditional game and normal line rules apply. A player needs to roll the established point before a seven (7) in order to win.
Players can place or buy points similar to a traditional craps game. Since more numbers are available when playing crapless craps, the house edge on these bets is greater than the traditional game.
According to Wizard of Odds, the house edge when a player rolls a 2 or 12 is 7.143%. The house edge for a 3 or 11 is 6.25%. The house edge for 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 is the same as traditional craps.
While the games look similar the additional numbers give the casino a larger house edge on crapless craps games. There’s really no reason to play crapless craps instead of the traditional version.
Where to play crapless craps in Las Vegas
Crapless craps went from a rare sight in Las Vegas casinos to a confusing alternative nobody asked for in many casinos. This information can be used to play crapless craps. More likely, craps players will use this information to avoid playing the version of their favorite game with a higher house edge.
According to Vegas Advantage, crapless craps can be found at the following Vegas Strip casinos:
- Aria
- Excalibur
- Flamingo
- Luxor
- Harrah’s
- Mandalay Bay
- MGM Grand
- Mirage
- New York-New York
- Park MGM
- The Strat
Crapless craps can also be found at some off-Strip casinos like the Plaza and Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Gaming options are changing often so expect to see this dice option elsewhere in the future.
More craps games on the casino floor
Craps is arguably the most fun game in the casino. Gaming manufacturers and Las Vegas casino operators understand this and are giving players more options than ever to roll the bones.
Crapless craps looks similar to the traditional game but has different payouts. This will confuse some players that don’t realize there are more numbers to play.
There are plenty of other new(ish) types of craps games available in casinos today. All of them are some kind of electronic craps games.
Roll To Win: We first saw Roll To Win craps at the Global Gaming Expo in 2018. This dealer-assisted (stick person) electronic craps game is now available at most Vegas Strip casinos. While there’s no cash involved, players roll real dice. The minimum bet for this game is almost always lower than a traditional craps game.
Shoot To Win: This game is commonly referred to as “bubble craps”. The completely automated craps game is available in just about every Las Vegas casino. This game is a fun way to the time in casinos.
Electronic Craps: Casinos all over Las Vegas continue to add electronic table games of all shapes and sizes. Players can find installations for one or more players depending on the property. The individual player electronic craps games are adorable.
Bartop: Some of the new bartop video gaming machines offer a video version of craps. This is the farthest game from the real experience but it can be a fun option when sitting at a bar sipping an adult beverage.
