A place bet in craps is a direct bet that a chosen number — usually 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 — will roll before 7. Unlike a Pass Line bet, it does not need to begin on the come-out roll and does not require the number to be the official point.
Plain Talk
A place bet lets you say, “I want this number before seven.”
If you place the 6, you win if 6 rolls before 7. If 7 rolls first while the bet is working, you lose. The bet can usually be made, pressed, reduced, or taken down before it resolves, depending on house procedure.
For full game context, read Craps and the Glossary.
| Place number | Common payout | Dice ways to hit | Main player note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 9 to 5 | 3 | Higher house edge than 6 or 8 |
| 5 or 9 | 7 to 5 | 4 | Middle option |
| 6 or 8 | 7 to 6 | 5 | Best common place numbers |
| 7 | Not a place number | 6 | Beats working place bets |
Where You See It
You see place bets in the number boxes on the craps layout: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
Why It Matters
Place bets are popular because they are easy to understand and give players control over specific numbers.
But easy does not always mean cheap. Place 6 and 8 are relatively efficient. Place 5 and 9 are worse. Place 4 and 10 are usually expensive compared with buying those numbers at favorable commission rules.
This is why players should not treat “place across” as one clean bet. It is really several bets with different prices.
Example
You place the 6 for $12.
The shooter rolls 4, then 9, then 6. Your place 6 wins and is commonly paid $14 because place 6 pays 7 to 6. If the shooter had rolled 7 before the 6, your working place bet would have lost.
From the Casino Side:
From the casino side, place bets are dealer-controlled working bets.
The dealer must know:
- which player owns each stack
- whether the bet is working or off
- whether the player wants to press, collect, reduce, or take down
- what correct payout applies to each number
- how to clear bets on seven out
Craps requires strong table control because one roll can produce many small dealer actions. Internal-control standards such as Nevada’s MICS resources show why table-game documentation, supervision, and accountability matter in live casino operations.
Common Misunderstanding
The biggest misunderstanding is thinking all place bets are similar because they sit in the same number boxes.
They are not. The 6 and 8 have better math because they have five dice combinations each. The 4 and 10 have only three combinations each and usually carry a higher house edge at standard place-bet payouts.
Hard Truth
“Place across” sounds balanced, but the casino price is not balanced. Some numbers are much worse buys than others.
Related Terms
- The Point — the official target number for line bets.
- Seven Out — the event that beats working place bets.
- Buy Bet — a related number bet that uses commission.
- Odds Bet — a true-odds bet tied to line or come bets.
- Hardway Bet — a different bet on paired dice outcomes.
- Craps — the full game term.
FAQ
What numbers can you place in craps?
The standard place numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
What is the best place bet?
Place 6 and Place 8 are generally the best common place bets because they have the lowest house edge among standard place bets.
Are place bets working on the come-out roll?
Often they are off by default on the come-out roll, but house rules and player instructions vary. Tell the dealer clearly if you want them working.
Can I take down a place bet?
Usually yes, before it resolves. That flexibility is one reason place bets are popular.
Is a place bet the same as an odds bet?
No. An odds bet is tied to a line or come bet and pays true odds. A place bet is a standalone number bet with built-in house edge.
Deeper Insight
Place bets are simple contracts: your number versus 7.
The casino edge comes from the difference between true probability and the payout offered. For example, 6 and 8 should be paid based on a 5-to-6 relationship against the 7, but the common place payout of 7 to 6 is still short of true odds.
Formula / Calculation
Common place-bet house edges using standard payouts:
| Place bet | Common payout | Approx. house edge per bet resolved |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 9 to 5 | 6.67% |
| 5 or 9 | 7 to 5 | 4.00% |
| 6 or 8 | 7 to 6 | 1.52% |
Simple expected value structure:
Expected Value = (Chance number hits × Net Win) - (Chance 7 hits × Stake)
For Place 6 with a $6 bet paying $7:
EV = (5/11 × $7) - (6/11 × $6)
EV = $35/11 - $36/11 = -$1/11
House edge:
House Edge = Expected Loss / Stake
House Edge = ($1/11) / $6 = 1.52%
Formula Explanation in Plain English
The 6 has five ways to roll. The 7 has six ways to roll. If the bet were perfectly fair, the payout would fully compensate for that disadvantage. The common place 6 payout gets close, but not all the way. That missing amount is the casino edge.
Related Reading
Read Seven Out before making place bets, because 7 is the number that clears them. Then compare Place Bet with Buy Bet and Odds Bet to understand the price difference. For full rules, go to Craps. For casino-side table control, read Casino Operations and Table Game Protection.