Repeater bets are craps side bets that win if a selected total rolls a required number of times before a 7. For example, a Repeater 6 may need six rolls of 6 before the seven-out. They are easy to cheer for, but they are high-variance side bets with pay tables that must be checked carefully.
Quick Facts
- Repeater bets usually track totals from 2 through 12, excluding 7.
- A number must repeat a required count before 7 appears.
- The required count often matches the number: 6 must repeat six times, 8 must repeat eight times, and so on.
- A 7 usually clears all unfinished Repeater bets.
- Payouts vary by casino and vendor version.
- They are different from place bets, which need one hit before 7.
- They create long sweat, not a low house edge.
Plain Talk
A Repeater bet turns a dice total into a collection race. You are not asking for one 6 before a 7, as with a Place 6. You are asking for the 6 to roll again and again before the 7 interrupts the hand.
That makes the bet feel simple:
“I need this number to keep repeating.”
But the math is not simple. Each target total has a different number of dice combinations. A 6 has five combinations. A 10 has three. A 12 has one. The 7 has six combinations and kills the run. The Wizard of Odds dice probability page shows why the 7 dominates two-dice math. The Wizard of Odds craps side bets appendix covers specialty craps wagers, and the Massachusetts craps rules show how formal craps rules define posted payouts and table procedure.
This page is about Repeater side bets. For normal repeated wagering such as Place 6 and 8, read Place 6 and Place 8. For the general probability foundation, read craps odds.
How It Works
A typical Repeater layout has separate betting spots for different totals. The player chooses one or more numbers before the shooter begins or before the casino’s posted cutoff.
A common concept looks like this:
| Repeater Bet | What Must Happen Before 7 | Why It Feels Tempting |
|---|---|---|
| Repeater 2 | Roll 2 twice | Rare number, large payout sound |
| Repeater 5 | Roll 5 five times | Feels possible on a long hand |
| Repeater 6 | Roll 6 six times | Common target but high count |
| Repeater 8 | Roll 8 eight times | Common target but even longer count |
| Repeater 12 | Roll 12 twelve times | Huge long-shot sweat |
The bet remains unresolved until it either reaches the required count or the shooter rolls 7. If the target completes, it pays. If 7 appears first, it loses.
Here is the trap: a number that appears more often may also require more hits. A 6 is easier to roll than a 12, but requiring six 6s before a 7 is still a serious hurdle.
Craps Table Example
A player makes these Repeater bets:
| Bet | Amount | Required Result |
|---|---|---|
| Repeater 5 | $5 | Five 5s before 7 |
| Repeater 6 | $5 | Six 6s before 7 |
| Repeater 8 | $5 | Eight 8s before 7 |
The shooter rolls:
6, 5, 8, 6, 4, 5, 10, 6, 8, 5, 9, 7
The hand felt active. The player saw three 6s, three 5s, and two 8s. None completed. The 7 ended all unfinished Repeater bets.
Now imagine the player also had normal Place 6 and Place 8 bets. Those could have won during the hand while the Repeater bets still lost. That is why these bets must not be confused with standard multi-roll bets.
From the Casino Side:
Repeater bets require clean tracking. The crew must know which numbers are booked, how many hits have been recorded, and when the bet is completed or cleared. If lammers, markers, or electronic tracking are used, the procedure must be consistent.
The boxman and floor supervisor care about disputes. A player may say, “That was the fourth 5,” while the crew has marked only three. Surveillance may need to verify the roll sequence if a meaningful payout is involved.
The dealer’s real job is not to share the excitement. It is to protect the game, pay according to the layout, and keep the dice moving without losing the count.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking a Repeater 6 is similar to a Place 6.
- Forgetting that the 7 cancels unfinished repeaters.
- Betting too many numbers and creating more total action than intended.
- Treating a near-miss as evidence the bet is “due.”
- Not checking whether payouts are “to 1” or “for 1.”
- Assuming all casinos use the same Repeater pay table.
- Celebrating a long hand while ignoring that no Repeater target actually completed.
Hard Truth
Repeater bets are built for the almost-there feeling. The casino does not need you to lose quickly. It only needs you to keep paying for long shots that feel close.
FAQ
What is a Repeater bet in craps?
It is a side bet that wins if a chosen total rolls a required number of times before a 7.
Does a Repeater bet win on one hit?
Usually no. It needs the posted number of repeats, not just one hit.
Are Repeater bets the same everywhere?
No. Layouts, required counts, and payouts can vary.
What happens when a 7 rolls?
Unfinished Repeater bets usually lose or reset according to posted rules.
Are Repeater bets better than Place bets?
Not for cost control. Place bets are standard bets with known common house edges. Repeaters are bonus side bets.
Can a Repeater bet pay during the same roll as a point decision?
Yes, if the target number completes on that roll and the posted rules allow it. The base-game result and side-bet result are tracked separately.
Should I bet every Repeater number?
That creates a lot of total action. More action means more expected loss when the house has the edge.
Deeper Insight
Repeater bets are a lesson in player psychology. Humans notice streaks. If a shooter rolls three 8s, the table starts talking. “Eight is repeating.” That talk can feel like information, but it is mostly emotion.
Each roll is still a fresh two-dice event. The chance of 8 on the next roll is still five combinations out of 36. The chance of 7 is still six combinations out of 36. Past 8s do not weaken the 7.
The required count is what makes the bet difficult. A target can be relatively common and still be hard to complete if it must repeat many times before the seven-out. The house edge depends on the full pay table, not on the excitement of seeing several hits.
For serious comparison, use the craps odds calculator for base bets and the expected loss calculator to understand how repeated side-bet action changes the session cost.
Formula / Calculation
P(single roll target) = target combinations / 36
P(single roll 7) = 6 / 36
Expected Value = (Probability of Completion × Net Win) - (Probability of Loss × Stake)
Expected Loss = Total Repeater Action × House EdgeExample combination counts:
| Total | Combinations | Single-Roll Chance |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4 | 4/36 = 11.11% |
| 6 | 5 | 5/36 = 13.89% |
| 8 | 5 | 5/36 = 13.89% |
| 9 | 4 | 4/36 = 11.11% |
| 7 | 6 | 6/36 = 16.67% |
Formula Explanation in Plain English
A Repeater bet is not about whether the target number can appear. Of course it can. The bet asks whether it can appear enough times before the most common total on the dice appears. That is a much tougher race.
Related Reading
Use the craps guide for the full table flow, then study craps odds and craps house edge before adding side bets. Compare this page with All Tall Small Bet and Fire Bet to see how bonus bets change the game. For broader bankroll impact, use the variance simulator and read why low house edge does not mean safe.