What do those signs on the table mean?
Table Odds, Minimums, and Maximums explained
Table Odds
Once you make a flat bet (pass, don’t pass, come, don’t come) and a point has beenset, you can place a wager on the Free Odds bet. The amounta casino lets you put on the Free Odds varies from casino to casino, and is calledthe Table Odds. It’s always a multiple of your flat bet (e.g., 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x,etc.) Table Odds are almost always posted on casino craps tables with signs. Asof this writing THE RIO, THE PARIS and SUNCOAST are the only casinos in Las Vegasnoted by this author that do not post Table Odds signs on their craps tables. Youmay even have to ask the dealers what table minimums and maximums are. At each ofthese casinos Table Odds are 3X on 4 and 10, 4X on 5 and 9 and 5X on 6 and 8 ineach of these casinos. (More on the Free Odds bet.)
Minimum
The Minimum means the minimum bet for a Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Field, or Big 6 and/or8 bet. Minimums usually do not apply to proposition bets (in the middle of the table).For example on a $5 minimum table you can probably bet $1 units on most prop bets– but you shouldn’t since prop bets carry a high house edge.
Maximum
The Maximum means the largest bet that you are allowed to make on the Pass Line,Don’t Pass, Field or Big 6 and/or 8. It’s also the largest bet allowed to be bookedfor Place Bets, and also usually the maximum payout allowed for proposition bets(in the middle of the table).
Maximum is a deceptive term because it doesn’t apply to the Free Odds bets. Forexample, on a table that offers 2X Table Odds and which has a $1,000 maximum, youcould make a $1,000 Flat Bet on the Pass Line and add another $2,000 behind it forOdds once your point is established, for a total of $3,000. Similarly, on a $1,000table with 5X odds you could make a $1,000 flat Bet on the Pass Line and add another$5,000 behind it for Odds, for a total of $6,000.
Some Casinos place a limit on the Free Odds bet which is posted on their signage.
Policy and limits on maximum bets is usually established by the Boxman.
It is possible to exceed what a player might consider maximum by making anotherwager, even on the same number (point). For example, on a $500 maximum table with2X odds it would be possible to bet $500 on the Pass Line, $1,000 odds on a pointof 4, and then Place or “Buy” the 4 for $500. There is no rule against doing thisas you are simply making a Place Bet in addition to your Pass Line bet. If you doso, the boxman and floorpeople might frown on this a bit but you should hold yourground that the limit applies to individual wagers. Placing the point is a commonoccurrence on tables with 2x odds where a player might have a very low bet on thePass Line with odds and is confident that they will make the Point. This, in essence,is a way for a player to exceed the 2x odds limit (or any low odds table limit)when on a hot roll. Needless to say that this is a subtlety of the game that thehouse will not readily advertise, even in those casinos where they actually schedulecraps training sessions for customers. And very few dealers would be prepared tooffer you the advice to Press your wager(s) in this manner. If you find any dealerswho can help you win in this manner when you are on a hot roll you should treatthem like gold.
The 6 and/or 8 Exception Rule. You can exceed table limits in most casinoswhen placing odds on the 6 and/or 8. For example in a casino that posts a $4,000Maximum on Free Odds you can probably wager $5,000 on Free Odds on the 6 and/or8.
Don’t Pass Ass Backwards. When laying Free Odds on the Don’t Pass bet, youhave to and are allowed to lay as much as double table maximum in order to win tablemaximum.