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There was a surge in the number of Google searches for online craps strategies and odds across the U.S. last year. Online searches increased by 70% for odds and 60% for strategies, demonstrating a growing interest in the game. Considering the sudden increase in interest, one can’t help but wonder exactly how Americans are playing craps.
Hard Rock Bet Online Casino has analyzed 3.3 million craps bets to find out. Here’s an overview of how America really plays craps, including the least and most popular numbers as well as preferred strategies.
What questions are North Americans asking?
Players across North America (the U.S. and Canada) are asking three main questions about craps: how the game works, the best bets and payouts, and the best strategies. Interestingly, the search volumes for each question vary between states and provinces.
In New Jersey, the search volume for how craps works stands at 36%, the lowest in the group, suggesting that residents here are the most well-versed in the game’s rules. Instead, players are more interested in the best bets and payouts, with search volumes at 42%. Search volumes for craps strategies are at 22%.
The numbers in online casinos in Michigan are almost similar. Search volumes for craps rules are at 38%, while searches about bets and odds are at 42%. Searches for best strategies currently stand at 21%.
However, search volumes in Pennsylvania and Ontario paint a different picture. While the larger share of search volume went to craps bets and odds – 41% in Ontario and 40% in Pennsylvania – the search volume for the game’s rules was also quite high, at 40% in both locations. Craps betting strategy saw marginally less interest here too, with search volumes at 19% in Pennsylvania and 20% in Ontario.
America’s favorite bets and strategies
Place bets are the most popular craps betting strategy in America, accounting for 39% of all wagers. Notably, it appears that bettors apply the optimal strategy with their Place bets.
Place 6 and Place 8 bets, largely considered the strongest value bets in craps, accounted for 43.5% of all Place bets. In contrast, Place 4 and Place 10 bets, widely considered weak bets, accounted for only 22.9% of all wagers. Interestingly, this demonstrates that players are applying some level of strategic awareness when placing their bets.
Overall, the Field bet was the most frequently placed bet among all Place bets, even surpassing the Pass Line. This is interesting, as the Field bet has significantly worse odds for players.
The Pass Line ranks seventh among the most frequently placed bets. Notably, betting on the Pass Line is considered a traditional beginner strategy.
Interestingly, players chose the Pass Line almost four times as often as Don’t Pass. In a similar pattern, Come bet was placed almost five times as often as Don’t Come. Overall, these betting patterns reveal that most players prefer betting with the dice roller instead of against them.
Besides Place bets, one-roll proposition bets – where outcomes are decided on a single dice roll – also appeared to take up a significant position in bettors’ strategies. These proposition bets (2, 3, 11, 12) accounted for more than 20% of all wagers.
Finding craps bets with the best odds
There are different types of bets that players can place when playing craps. Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets are ranked among the most favorable bets. Place 6 and Place 8 bets are also considered strong-value and thus popular. Indeed, the data used in this analysis reveals that players are well aware of the strength of these bet types.
Interestingly, Odds bets, which are additional wagers placed behind a Pass Line or Don’t Pass bet, are the only type of bet where the house lacks an advantage over the player. This means that the bets give players a better chance of winning. However, players rarely wager on these bets, with the underlying data revealing a paltry 2% betting frequency. Indeed, while there were many wagers on Pass Line bets, players didn’t add Odds bets despite the opportunities.
Key takeaways from craps betting in North America
Based on the data, it is clear that many players understand the basics of how craps works. This is evident in players’ preference for Place 6 and Place 8 bets over Place 4 and Place 10 bets. However, many players also prioritize thrill over optimal strategy, considering the low frequency of Odds bets compared to Field bets and proposition bets.
