California Craps

Last update: Aug. 29, 2008

In California the dice alone may not determine the outcome in craps. So a combination of dice and playing cards are used. There are numerous ways this is done. Here are some methods I am aware of.

• Pala: The following equipment is used: (A) A red die numbered with three 1's, and three 4's, (B) a blue die numbered with three 2's, and three 3's, and (C) A 36-card deck featuring all possible permutations of two dice. Two cards are drawn at random and placed face down over red and blue regions of the table. The dice are thrown. If the red die is higher then the red card is turned over and used as the roll, if the blue die is higher then the blue card is used. Note that there can be no ties. Also the blue die is irrelevant. A 1 on the red die will always lose to the blue die, and a 4 will always win.
• Barona (old way): Two separate 312-card shoes are used. Each shoe consists of 52 each of ranks A, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Aces count as one, all other ranks count according to its pip value. One card is drawn from each shoe to simulate the throw of two dice. Players may optionally request a number of cards to be burned from each deck.
• Barona (new way): Six cards are used, numbered one to six. They are randomly placed in six positions on the table. The roll of two dice will determine which card(s) are turned over, that shall deterine the outcome for betting purposes.
• Harrah's Rincon: Two separate six-card decks, one red and one green, are used. Each shoe consists one each of ranks A, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Aces count as one, all other ranks count according to its pip value. Six cards are dealt from each shoe. Two ordinary dice are thrown, one red and one green. The outcome of the dice determine which cards are turned over, which represent the roll.
• Normandie: Two partial decks are mixed together, each consisting of all four suits ranked ace to six. So, there are 48 cards total. Two cards are drawn without replacement. If they are the same suit, then there is no action. Otherwise, the two cards represent the roll. This is mathematically equivalent to using dice. There is also a "No Call" bet, which pays 3 to 1 on two cards of the same suit. The house edge on that bet is 6.38%. As usual with the Los Angeles county casinos, the player must also pay about a 1% fee on all bets.

    See important note about Bodog payouts & deposits.