California Craps

Last update: Oct. 29, 2009

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.

Barona

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. With each new shooter, the cards are re-arranged. The odds are the same as conventional craps.

Harrah's

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. The odds are the same as conventional craps.

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.

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. The odds are the same as conventional craps.

The "Super Field" pays if both cards are the 1-1 and 6-6, in either order. Wins pay 500 to 1. The probability of winning is 0.154%, for a house edge of 22.685%.

Pechanga

Two separate shoes are used, one blue and one red. Each shoe consists of an equal number of ranks A, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Aces count as one, all other ranks count according to its pip value. I do not know the actual card count, but the total looked to be about 400. Mathematically speaking, it doesn't make any difference. One card is drawn from each shoe to simulate the throw of two dice. The odds are the same as conventional craps.

Pauma

A 73-card deck is used, consisting of 12 each of cards ace to six, and one joker. Two cards are drawn to determine the roll. If the first card is the joker, there is no action, and two new cards are drawn. If the second card is the joker, it shall match the first card. The odds are the same as conventional craps.

The joker side bet pays 60 FOR 1 if the first card is a joker. The probability of winning is 1.389%, for a house edge of 16.67%.

The four suit bets, one for each suit, win if both cards are the suit specified, and pays 14 FOR 1. The probability of winning is 5.822%, for a house edge of 18.493%.

Sycuan

The Sycuan follows the same procedure as Barona.

Viejas

The game is dealt at a blackjack-size table called "Card Craps." I'm told a 264-card shoe is used, consisting of 44 cards each of ranks ace to six. They start with five 54-card decks (9 cards each numbered 1 to 6), and then remove one of each face (5×54-6=264), to accomodate the shuffler. Two cards are drawn to represent the roll. Due to the effect of non-replacement, the odds will be slightly different from conventional craps.

The maximum win on odds bets is $1,000. If the player wishes to get that limit, with 10X odds after a pass or come bet, then he should not bet more than $10 on a pass or come bet, and $100 on a don't pass or don't come.

For more information, see my page on Card Craps.

San Diego County Odds Survey

Between November 30 and December 1, 2008, I surveyed all 11 casinos in San Diego County for the odds offered in craps, among other things. The following table shows my results.

* The Viejas 10X odds game has a maximum odds bet of $1,000.

“3x-4x-5x” means the player can bet 3 times his pass/come bet with a point of 4 or 10, 4 times with a 5 or 9, and 5 times with a 6 or 8. Assuming the player always takes the maximum odds, under this rule, his odds win will always be 6 times his pass line bet. “2x,” or double odds, assumes the player may bet 2.5 times his pass/come bet after a point of 6 or 8. This helps to keep the odds bet divisible by 5, making 6 to 5 payoffs easier to calculate and pay. The house edge column is the combined house edge between the pass/come bet and full odds.

Disclaimer: The Barona Casino hired me to perform surveys of San Diego casinos for backjack, roulette, and craps. The table above summarizes my findings.

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