Downtown tables Vs. “Strip” tables

Know the difference!

For years the downtown Vegas casinos have offered better odds on games than thoseoffered on the Vegas strip. This is true not just for craps, but for allgames, including slot machines. They have to do something to compete with all thoseStrip megaresorts, and this is one way they do it.

Many downtown and strip casinos differ in how the payoffs on the Place Bets of the6 and 8, and the payoffs on the 2, 3, 11, and 12, with the downtown variety beingmore generous. For the rest of this article “downtown table” and “strip table” referto which kind of payout you get at that table, and not necessarily wherethat table is located. There are some downtown casinos that have “strip tables”and some strip casinos that have “downtown tables”.

Of course, getting a downtown vs. strip table is only of importance to you if youmake the specific Place and Prop. bets listed above. If all you’re doingis making flat bets (Pass, Come, Don’t Pass, Don’t Come) and backing them with Odds,then it doesn’t matter what layout you play on. All that matters to you there isto make sure that you’re playing at a casino that offers the highest Free Odds available. But for the sake of our Place and Prop. bettors, let’scontinue the article.

On a downtown table a $3 Place Bet on the 6 or 8 pays $3.50 — you actually getthe 50 cents. On a strip table the house rounds the payoff down and only pays $3.00.This is only significant to a $3 Place Bettor. More important are the differencesin the proposition bets of 2,3,11 and 12. On a downtown table the 2 and 12 pay 31for 1 (30 to 1) and the 3 and 11 pay 16 for 1 (15 to 1). On a strip table the 2and 12 pay 30 for 1 (29 to 1) and the 3 and 11 pay 15 for 1 (14 to 1) which reducesyour odds and increases house edge to 16.67%, the same as the Big Red 7 — the worstbet on the whole craps table. If reading the rest of this website has not convincedyou to lay off of the proposition bets than you should at least be selective aboutthe casino and the table that you play on.

Also note that because payoffs on the 2,3,11 and 12 are reduced on strip tablesthat payoffs are also reduced for combination wagers made on Craps/Eleven (C andE), 7-11, The Horn bet, Hi-Low-Yo, Ace/Deuce-11, HI-LOW, 11/12, The Horn High Combinations,the “World” Bet, 7 or 11 “Buffaloes”, and 3-Way Craps. Of course, these wagers suckyour money even on a downtown table. Another minor note is that some strip casinos,in fairness to the players, do not even have a Corner 6 or 8 on their table layouts.