Craps Fire bet is the thrilling side wager payout based on the shooter’s unique points. In this article, HunnyPlay will explore expert strategies, winning tips, and payout secrets to enhance your gameplay and maximize your rewards with this exhilarating bet.
What is the Craps Fire bet?
To win a Craps Fire Bet, the shooter must establish and make at least four different point numbers during their turn. Winning the same point multiple times doesn’t count toward the Fire Bet.
The Fire Bet is lost if the shooter fails to achieve at least four unique point numbers. This bet offers a long-shot opportunity for a significant payout, adding excitement for the bettor and generating extra revenue for the casino with its infrequent wins.
The Craps Fire Bet stands out by encouraging bettors to take a long-shot chance for the potential of a large, immediate payout.
For example:
- You place a $5 Fire Bet.
- If the shooter sets and makes four unique points and then rolls a 7 without adding more unique points, you receive $125.
- However, the initial $5 remains on the table since the payout is at a ratio of 25 for 1, not true 25-to-1 odds.
It’s crucial to note that the payout isn’t immediate upon hitting the fourth unique point. The bettor can aim for a higher payout if the shooter hits a fifth or even sixth unique point.
The final payout is determined when the shooter’s turn ends, ensuring the bettor receives the correct payout once the four-point threshold is met or exceeded.
Cash in on a Fire Bet (Source: Chipy)
How to make a Craps Fire bet?
The Craps Fire Bet, similar to the Repeater bet, is a side wager placed at the beginning of a shooter’s turn. To place this bet, simply position your chips on the Fire Bet symbol located behind the pass line on the craps table.
You can withdraw your Fire Bet anytime before the shooter establishes their first point number. However, once the first point is set, it becomes a contract bet, meaning it must remain in place until it is either won or lost.
If the shooter struggles to establish the first point, it might be a sign to remove your Fire Bet.
Notes:
- Most casinos require a pass line bet to place a Fire Bet. However, some casinos allow you to place Fire Bets on other shooters without a pass line bet.
- If you attempt to make a Fire Bet without a Pass Line and it’s not permitted, the dealer will quickly inform you of the casino’s specific rules.
Craps Fire bet payouts and odds: How to calculate them?
At the end of the shooter’s turn, if zero, one, two, or three unique points are made, the Craps Fire Bet is lost. This outcome is the most common, contributing to the casino’s profit from offering the Fire Bet.
When four unique point numbers are made, you receive a payout of 24-for-1 at most casinos. This payout level occurs approximately 0.008798% of the time, meaning less than one percent of your wagers will hit this smallest Fire Bet payoff.
If the shooter makes five unique point numbers, the payout jumps to 249-for-1. This level of payoff happens about 0.001640% of the time, indicating its rarity.
For the ultimate reward, making six unique point numbers pays 999-for-1. This extraordinary payout occurs only 0.000162% of the time, making it exceedingly rare.
These percentage calculations are credited to Michael Shackelford, a renowned expert in gambling odds.
Craps Fire bet payouts and odds principle (Source: Chipy)
Craps Fire Payout Table detailed
There are 3 known pay tables for the Fire Bet (also credited to Michael Shackelford), each with varying house edges. Pay Table 1 is the most prevalent. Payouts are shown on a “to one” basis, where a negative one denotes a loss.
| Points made | Pay Table A | Pay Table B | Pay Table C | |
| 6 | 999 | 2000 | 299 | |
| 5 | 249 | 200 | 149 | |
| 4 | 24 | 10 | 29 | |
| 3 | -1 | -1 | 6 | |
| 2 | -1 | -1 | -1 | |
| 1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | |
| 0 | -1 | -1 | -1 | |
| House Edge | 20.76% | 24.86% | 20.73% |
Pay Table A
| Points made | Pays | Probability | Return |
| 0 | -1 | 0.593939 | -0.593939 |
| 1 | -1 | 0.260750 | -0.26075 |
| 2 | -1 | 0.101275 | -0.101275 |
| 3 | -1 | 0.033434 | -0.033434 |
| 4 | 24 | 0.008798 | 0.211156 |
| 5 | 249 | 0.001640 | 0.408343 |
| 6 | 999 | 0.000162 | 0.162272 |
| Total | 1 | -0.207628 |
Pay Table B
| Points made | Pays | Probability | Return |
| 0 | -1 | 0.593939 | -0.593939 |
| 1 | -1 | 0.260750 | -0.26075 |
| 2 | -1 | 0.101275 | -0.101275 |
| 3 | -1 | 0.033434 | -0.033434 |
| 4 | 10 | 0.008798 | 0.087982 |
| 5 | 200 | 0.001640 | 0.327987 |
| 6 | 2000 | 0.000162 | 0.324869 |
| Total | 1 | -0.248562 |
Pay Table C
| Points made | Pays | Probability | Return |
| 0 | -1 | 0.593939 | -0.593939 |
| 1 | -1 | 0.260750 | -0.26075 |
| 2 | -1 | 0.101275 | -0.101275 |
| 3 | 6 | 0.033434 | 0.200605 |
| 4 | 29 | 0.008798 | 0.255147 |
| 5 | 149 | 0.001640 | 0.244350 |
| 6 | 299 | 0.000162 | 0.048568 |
| Total | 1 | -0.207295 |
Fire bet probabilities
The table below displays the probabilities of making 0 to 6 points, presented with the maximum significant digits supported by Excel.
| Points Made | Probabilities |
| 0 | 0.593939393939394 |
| 1 | 0.260750492003903 |
| 2 | 0.101275355549231 |
| 3 | 0.0334342121788456 |
| 4 | 0.00879817844040312 |
| 5 | 0.00163993313895325 |
| 6 | 0.000162434749269826 |
Should you make the Fire bet in Craps?
The Craps Fire bet carries a high house edge of 20.8%, making it a risky wager to place frequently. When you do decide to make a Fire Bet, remember that while it can add excitement during a long roll, you should be prepared to lose most of these bets.
Effective bankroll management is crucial when considering high-risk wagers like the Craps Fire bet. It’s wise to allocate only a small portion of your bankroll for such bets and stick to that limit.
This strategy allows you to preserve the majority of your buy-in for more reliable and frequently won bets, which are often the determining factor in whether your session ends in a win or loss.
Conclusion
In closing, while the Craps Fire bet offers the allure of substantial payouts, it comes with a high house edge that makes it a risky choice. This can deter players seeking low house advantage bets.
However, at a hot table, it might be worth the thrill. For those new to craps, mastering simpler bets first is advisable. Explore these strategies and more at HunnyPlay to enhance your gaming experience.