Las Vegas isn’t filled with as many low stakes tables these days, nor do they hand out as many comps. It really is a shame because even low rollers should be able to find places to play.

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This is discouraging to many low rollers. But there are still several casinos that offer low stakes and solid comps.

This is my favorite strategy for playing Craps. The basis of the strategy includes lots of money on the table working for you but not having a lot of it at. The odds for a High-Low bet correspond to those of Yo-Leven and Ace-Deuce. The house edge amounts to about 11.11%. Players who have placed a C & E bet collect whenever the next dice roll results in a total of either the Craps numbers 2, 3, and 12 or 11 (Yo-Leven). Famous for its “Space Needle” like tower stretching high into The Strip’s skyline, the Stratosphere also has the lowest-stakes craps game around. You can enjoy 10x Odds – the highest offered on The Strip outside of from The Cromwell – for just a $5 minimum base bet. If the payout is 175 to 1, then the house edge is 7.47%. If the payout is a lousy 150 to 1, then the house edge would be 20.81%. The odds of winning the All Bet is about 1 in 190. Explanation of All Bets.

Vegas casinos know that low rollers comprise the bulk of gamblers. In fact, research by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority shows that Sin City visitors have an average bankroll of $541.

That being said, plenty of casinos in Las Vegas still cater to the low roller. And here are the 7 best Vegas casinos for those on a budget.

1 – El Cortez – 600 Fremont Street

El Cortez has become Vegas’ low roller mecca for three reasons:

1 – They have great blackjack.

2 – They have great craps.

3 – Their comps are very generous for low rollers.

You won’t be wowed by the appearance of this casino. But you’ll certainly appreciate the three points mentioned above.

El Cortez has $5 blackjack tables that feature a single deck, 3:2 natural blackjack payouts, and doubling down on any total.

These rules combine to offer an ultra-low 0.30% house edge, which is rare in Vegas – especially when dealing with a $5 game! Just don’t expect to count cards here because the pit bosses watch these tables like hawks.

El Cortez is just as generous with their craps action, where minimum bets are $3. You can back pass line and don’t pass line bets with up to 10x odds, which lowers the house edge to 0.184%.

It is also worth dropping by the El Cortez roulette tables. The minimum bet is $1.

Normally, casinos with low stakes offer next to nothing in comps. But El Cortez again proves to be an anomaly by offering generous rewards through Club Cortez.

2 – Boulder Station – 4111 Boulder Highway

Boulder Station is a great all-around low roller destination. Not only do they offer low stakes table games, but also generous payback and comps for machines.

You can play a $3 blackjack game here, which features 6 decks, 3:2 blackjack payouts, and the dealer hitting a soft 17. The house edge is 0.64% at the $3 tables.

The $5 game features 2 decks, 3:2 blackjack payouts, the dealer standing on a soft 17, and late surrender. These rules combine to deliver a 0.40% house edge.

Boulder Station also features the same craps game as El Cortez, where minimum bets are $3 and you can take up to 10x odds.

Where this casino really separates itself is in the video poker department. They have full-pay versions of Deuces Wild (100.76% payback), Joker Wild (100.65%), Double Bonus (100.17%), Loose Deuces Wild (100.15%), and Double Double Bonus (100.07%).

The Station Casinos loyalty program is one of the best in Vegas. It offers 3 points for every $1 wagered on most video poker and slot machines, giving you a 0.30% rebate.

Do note, though, that any machine with over 100% payback only delivers 1 point per $4 wagered.

Boulder Station is a serious rival to El Cortez in the lower roller world. The only areas where Boulder Station trails include the baccarat ($5 minimum) and roulette ($4 minimum) tables.

3 – Santa Fe Station – 4949 North Rancho Drive

Santa Fe Station offers a nice mixture of low stakes table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and Pai Gow poker.

The blackjack tables feature $5 minimum bets, 2 decks, 3:2 blackjack payouts, the dealer hitting a soft 17, and re-splitting aces. This game features a 0.46% house edge, which is close to the top tables at El Cortez and Boulder Station.

The craps games here feature 10x odds and a $5 minimum wager.

You can also enjoy an electronic craps game that features $1 minimum bets and 5x odds. This is great for machine players who want to experience craps away from the table atmosphere.

Here are minimum stakes for other games at Santa Fe Station:

• Baccarat = $10
• Pai Gow poker = $5
• Roulette = $4
• Three card poker = $5
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em = $5

Santa Fe is part of the Stations Casino network. This means that you can enjoy the same generous loyalty program described in the Boulder Station section.

You can also look forward to the same full-pay video poker machines that are featured at Boulder Station.

4 – East Cannery – 5255 Boulder Highway

Easy Cannery is a solid off-Strip casino that offers decent blackjack and craps action.

The minimum blackjack bet is $5, and these tables feature 2 decks, double down on any total, and double down after splitting. The house edge is 0.46% on East Cannery’s $5 blackjack tables.

The craps tables feature a $3 minimum bet with 10x odds, which is the standard for top low roller casinos.

Pai Gow poker players will appreciate the EZ no-commission tables here. These games feature a 2.47% house edge, which is about as good as you’ll find for Pai Gow poker.

The video poker and slot machine action is okay, but nothing to boast about. However, the table game rules and house edges make East Cannery worth a visit.

5 – Red Rock Casino – 11011 West Charleston Boulevard

Red Rock is the most-luxurious casino on this list. It features a number of amenities, including a dozen restaurants, 16-screen Movie Theater, giant pool area, and nearby hiking trails.

They aren’t quite as generous with their low stakes gaming action as other Station Casinos properties. But Red Rock offers a nice combination of amenities and low stakes play.

If you don’t mind being away from the Vegas Strip, then Red Rock is definitely worth visiting for resort-minded low rollers.

Red Rock offers a $10 blackjack game with 2 decks, double down on any total, and double down after splitting. These tables feature a 0.46% house edge.

The video poker machines are very good at Red Rock. You can look forward to full-pay versions of Deuces Wild, Double Bonus, Loose Deuces, and Double Double Bonus. You won’t find a high-class resort with better video poker action.

This casino also features a poker room with $2/$4 no-limit Texas hold’em and $5/$10 Omaha.

The craps and roulette tables are okay in terms of minimum bets. But the craps tables only offer up to 5x odds.

6 – Texas Station – 2101 Texas Star Lane

Texas Station is the fourth Station Casinos-owned venue to make this list. And Texas Station is here because they offer good low roller blackjack, craps, roulette, and video poker.

This casino features three different blackjack games.

The best is the $5 minimum bet table, which has 2 decks, re-splitting aces, 3:2 blackjack payouts, and a 0.40% house edge. The $3 tables offer 2 decks, 3:2 blackjack payouts, no re-splitting aces, and a 0.64% house edge.

You want to avoid the single-deck tables because they have 6:5 blackjack payouts and a 1.70% house advantage.

The craps tables fall in line with the best low roller casinos because minimum bets are $3 and you can take 10x odds.

The roulette minimum stakes are $4, while the Pai Gow poker tables require a $5 minimum bet.

7 – Arizona Charlie’s – 4575 Boulder Highway

Arizona Charlie’s is a close rival to El Cortez when it comes to $5 blackjack games.

They have a double-deck game with 3:2 blackjack payouts, double down on any total and double down after splitting. These $5 tables feature a 0.34% house edge.

The craps game is another reason to play here because it features $5 minimum bets and up to 10x odds.

Be sure to join the Ace Play rewards program if you play here. This loyalty plan features several tiers and cashback that increases along with your status.

Conclusion

Las Vegas has been transitioning away from their reliance on gambling over the past decade. This means that most Vegas Strip casinos concentrate on their amenities, nightclubs, and restaurants first, then worry about the casino games.

But it’s nice to know that several casinos still value casino players, including the ones on a budget.

My favorite low roller establishment is definitely El Cortez because it offers the best low stakes blackjack and roulette action in Vegas. You can also look forward to plenty of comps, which only sweetens the deal.

Station Casinos has done an excellent job at creating a network of casinos that focus on gaming and low rollers.

You can always find good blackjack action at these casinos, while the craps is normally pretty good too. And the best part is that you can sign up for their rewards program and pick up comps at every Station Casinos venue.

As covered earlier, Red Rock is definitely the best option for those who want low stakes combined with the features of a largescale resort.

Also, keep Arizona Charlie’s Boulder and East Cannery in mind when looking to stretch your bankroll.

Since the Stratosphere video came out, people have been asking ‘what is Crapless Craps’?

Before I begin, I will assume that the reader already understands and knows how to play craps, i.e, ‘traditional’ craps aka ‘craps’. If you do not know how to play craps, then forget crapless craps for a moment. Go binge watch all my YouTube videos, ask me some questions here on RoadGambler.com (I respond), and then come back for Crapless Craps.

Also, for the sake of clarity, anytime I mention the word ‘craps’ by itself, I am referring to the traditional game.

Let’s discuss Crapless Craps!

WHAT IS CRAPLESS CRAPS?

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Crapless Craps is a variant of craps that plays exactly like traditional craps, but with the following rule change:

• On the Come Out roll, 2, 3, 11, and 12 are not natural winners or losers, rather, they become the point.
  • If the 2 rolled on the Come Out in craps, the player would lose; but in Crapless Craps, if the Come Out roll is 2, then the 2 is the point. The player would then need to roll the 2 to win, and the 7 would lose.
  • If the 3 rolled on the Come Out in craps, the player would lose; but in Crapless Craps, if the Come Out roll is 3, then the 3 is the point. The player would then need to roll the 3 to win, and the 7 would lose.
  • If the 12 rolled on the Come Out in craps, the player would lose; but in Crapless Craps, if the Come Out roll is 12, then the 12 is the point. The player would then need to roll the 2 to win, and the 7 would lose.
  • If the 11 rolled on the Come Out in craps, the player would win; but in Crapless Craps, if the Come Out roll is 11, then the 11 is the point. The player would then need to roll the 11 to win, and the 7 would lose.

The 2, 3, 11, and 12 are now point numbers, referred to as the ‘extreme outside’ numbers.

One other difference is that there is no dark side betting in Crapless Craps; meaning there is no Don’t Pass or Don’t Come, and the player may not lay odds or bet against.

All other rules remain the exact same, meaning that on a come out roll, the 7 is a natural winner.

All differences between Crapless Craps and craps are from the above singular rule change.

This rule change also means that the pass line and come bets have a house edge of 5.382% (citation, Wizard of Odds) versus 1.41% for traditional craps.

I will now explain the differences that result from the rule change.

If a craps rule is not mentioned below, then the rule remains the same from traditional craps to Crapless craps. For example, place bets of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 are not mentioned, thus those place bets are unchanged. Same goes for field bets, hardways 4, 6, 8, and 10 are not mentioned, those bets remain the same from traditional craps to Crapless Craps.

HOW CRAPLESS CRAPS IS PLAYED

Crapless Craps is played exactly like traditional craps, with the difference that when a 2, 3, 11, or 12 is rolled on the come out, the dealers will now mark the point of 2, 3, 11, or 12.

Witness the board, with the 2, 3, 11, and 12 as the ‘box’ numbers…

In the pic below, 12 is the point.

If the point is 2, 3, 11, or 12 the player may then take odds bets on those points. Odds bets on those points are subject to the same minimum and maximum as traditional craps. I have never been to a casino where the odds from craps were different from Crapless Craps. At the El Dorado casino in Shreveport, Louisiana, the craps tables and the Crapless Craps tables all have 100x odds. Discussion of the odds bets will follow.

In addition to taking odds on the 2, 3, 11, and 12, the player may also bet the 2, 3, 11, or 12. Discussion of the place bets will follow.

THE CRAPLESS CRAPS ODDS BET

If the point is 2, 3, 11, or 12, the player may take the following odds, subject to the table maximum.

• Point is 2 or 12
  • Pay off for a win is 6-1, meaning for $100 bet, the player will win $600.
  • There are six ways to lose and only one way to roll a winner, thus 6-1.
    • For example, if point is 2 then the losing combinations are 1+6, 6+1, 2+5, 5+2, 3+4, and 4+3 (six ways), while the only possible winning combination is 1+1 (one way). The similar condition for the 12, in which the only winner is 6+6.
• Point is 3 or 11
  • Pay off for a win is 3-1 meaning for $100 bet, the player will win $300.
  • There are six ways to lose and two ways to roll a winner, thus 6-2, i.e., 3-1.
    • For example, if point is 3 then the losing combinations are 1+6, 6+1, 2+5, 5+2, 3+4, and 4+3 (six ways), while the only possible winning combinations are 1+2 and 2+1 (two ways). The similar condition for the 11, in which the winning combinations are 5+6 and 6+5.

Similar to craps, the player may also take the same odds bets on the come bet if the 2, 3, 11, or 12 rolls.

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The odds bet pays true odds. The only caveat is that the player must make a pass line or come bet to take advantage of the odds bet.

THE CRAPLESS CRAPS PLACE BETS AND BUY BETS

The player may also make place bets on the 2, 3, 11, and 12.

• Place bet of 2 or 12
  • Pay off for a win is 11-2, meaning for $100 bet, the player will win $550.
  • The house edge with the place bet of 2 or 12 is 7.143% (citation, Wizard of Odds)
• Point is 3 or 11
  • Pay off for a win is 11-4 meaning for $100 bet, the player will win $275.
  • The house edge with the place bet of 3 or 11 is 6.25%.

As a reminder, all other place bets in Crapless Craps are exactly the same as traditional craps.

Due to the high place house edge on the place bets, RoadGambler recommends avoiding place bets on the 2, 3, 11, 12.

The wiser way to play the 2, 3, 11, and 12, if the player would like ‘extreme outside’ action is to buy the 2, 3, 11, or 12. If the player buys the extreme outside numbers, the player must pay a 5% commission, but will then receive a true odds payout. Most casinos, according to my experience, charge commission as soon as the player makes the bet.

• Buy bet of 2 or 12
  • Pay off for a win is 6-1, meaning for $100 bet, the player will win $600.
  • Commission is $5 for $100 bet. Thus the player will pay a net $595 versus $550 on a place bet of 2 or 12.
  • Thus, by risking an additional $5 upfront, the player will win an additional $45 net.
  • House edge on the typical ‘pay upfront’ scheme is 4.76% (citation, Wizard of Odds)
• Point is 3 or 11
  • Pay off for a win is 3-1, meaning for $100 bet, the player will win $300.
  • Commission is $5 for $100 bet. Thus the player will pay a net $295 versus $275 on a place bet of 3 or 11.
  • Thus, by risking an additional $5 upfront, the player will win an additional $20 net.
  • House edge on the typical ‘pay upfront’ scheme is 4.76% (citation, Wizard of Odds)

RoadGambler advice: RoadGambler recommends that the player should avoid place bets on the 2, 3, 11, 12, and instead buy those numbers, if the player wants extreme outside action without pass line or come betting.

FINAL ADVICE

Just avoid playing Crapless Craps. Seriously. I know that might not be the advice you want to hear, but that’s genuine and real advice. I’ve never been to a casino where the only craps option was Crapless Craps; every single casino that has Crapless Craps has traditional craps as the main option (if any reader knows of a casino that has only the Crapless Craps option, please let me know).

I love testing out carnival games and playing all sorts of weird casino games, and I play them out of curiosity. Sometimes, I’ll prefer the carnival variation of a game over the traditional game, such as Commission Free Pai Gow Poker. However, in a variant such as Commission Free Pai Gow Poker, the house edge is 2.51%, which is nearly identical to traditional Pai Gow Poker.

The disparity in the house edge for Crapless Craps and traditional craps is just too high. Giving up the 11 winner on a come out is just too much give up. On a point of 2, 3, and 12, even though the player might not lose his bet immediately, the long shot of repeating those points does not make up for the change of the 11 on the come out.

However, if you insist on playing Crapless Craps over traditional craps, here is some advice on how to play it effectively:

1. Make sure that the casino rates you higher than if you played traditional craps. Many casinos will rate you on the Crapless Craps pass line and come bets like you are playing traditional craps. For a traditional craps game, earned comp rates on pass line bets are very low because the house edge is low. The earned comp rate for Crapless Craps should be similar to roulette.
   1. You can figure this out by playing regular craps and asking for your comp rate during your session play, and then when you move to the Crapless table, play for the same period of time, making the same bets, and asking for your comp rate. The Crapless comp rate should be significantly higher than traditional craps.
2. Play a high variance game based on hit and run. Hit and run has the advantage in that, while it will not change the house edge, it reduces the number of hands played. You cannot lose money while you are away from the table and walking around the casino.
3. Stick to the normal craps type bets, and try to ignore playing the extreme outside numbers unless the chance to bet the extreme outside number is through the odds bet. You will be tempted to place or buy the extreme outside, when the inevitable day comes that the extreme outside numbers are repeatedly rolling. Do not fall for the gambler’s fallacy.
4. Do not be afraid to take as much odds as you are comfortable with on the extreme outside numbers. The extreme outside odds bets pay true odds and this will significantly reduce the house edge.

I hope this Crapless Craps guide helped you understand the game. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

Posted in: Casino, Craps, Gambling