How to Win at Craps with a Small Bankroll: Winning Big with Less
Many years ago, my budget for gambling was pretty low. The good news is that I haven’t even wanted to spend a lot of money on casino games like craps. My responsibility turned out to be a great beginning of the journey.
Believe it or not, I played with only $100 per craps session, and I didn’t have more than 2 sessions a month. The good news is that I used every possible opportunity to learn something new.
Today, I can tell exactly that strategic play can increase the chances of winning even with a small bankroll. If you are keen to learn how to win at craps with low funds, continue reading.
Maximizing Your Small Bankroll
I know very well that maximizing a small bankroll looks impossible. I used to think the same. Luckily, there are ways to achieve that goal. Here are three things you need to focus on, starting with knowing how to organize your casino bankroll.
Choosing Low Minimum Bet Tables
You can’t go to a high-roller bet and expect to become a millionaire for half an hour. At least, I haven’t heard anyone manage to do so. Instead, look for low-minimum bet craps tables to prolong your gambling sessions. There, you can bet $5 per session (depending on the betting option you choose).
No, you won’t find these tables in popular land-based casinos across the US. Your most significant chance of reaching them are online casinos. But you must find those that are licensed and regulated.
Check my linked guide for the best online casinos that payout.
Focusing on Low House Edge Bets
Despite picking a casino, your task is to find the best craps games. Graphics, stream quality, and other aesthetic features are entirely irrelevant here. Instead, seek options with the lowest house edge. On average, the RTP of this game is around 98.6%, which gives you a big chance of winning.
However, the house edge also depends on the betting options. These are craps bets I recommend to low-budget players:
- Pass Line Bet: House edge, around 1.4%
- Don’t Pass Line Bet: House edge, around 1.36%
Avoid Proposition Bets
I love sharks, but I would never swim near them. At the same time, I would never wager on proposition bets with a small budget.
Why? Because this is the riskiest betting option at craps. To make things clear, these are side bets that have nothing to do with the outcome of any round. Indeed, in case you guess them, the profit will be much larger. At the same time, you can lose all the money pretty quickly.
At the beginning of my gambling career, I decided to focus my entire session on proposition bets. Unfortunately, my gameplay lasted for 8 minutes because of that. I missed literally everything and lost. The House edge here is much lower, so I recommend you focus on multi-roll bets.
Strategic Betting with Limited Funds
As I said previously, strategic betting boosts a player’s odds. No, my tactics aren’t magical; they are there to support disciplined players and raise their chances of winning. For more casino winning tricks, refer to my dedicated article.
For now, take notes of the following craps strategies adapted for tight budgets.
Using the “5-Count” Strategy
The 5-Count strategy was established in the 1980s, and focuses on selecting shooters to bet craps. There are three main highlights of this strategy:
- 50% of the shooters will automatically be eliminated.
- The remaining half of the shooters are divided into four different parts. Here, you will find:
- The shooters who will break your heart shortly after putting money at risk
- The shooters who have luck
- The shooters who have developed a rhythmic role
- The shooters who know how to control the dice purposely
- Whichever type of shooter you deal with, the house edge can significantly go down.
The count starts at zero when a new shooter takes the dice. When he rolls a point number, the count goes to one. With every next successive roll, the count will go up by 1, and the upper limit is four.
How did it reach 5? That happens when the shooter rolls a point number. More precisely, the count starts and ends with a point number.
When that happens, players are free to place wagers on the table. Logically, you must restrict your playing only to so-called good bets.
Implementing the Iron Cross Strategy Carefully
The Iron Cross strategy allows you to cover more numbers at once. A gambler should place a bet on the 5, 6, and 8 together with a field bet. This way, you will cover even more potential outcomes.
Keep in mind that rewards are going to come much more frequently. However, if you lose money, those losses can be larger. So, I recommend you stop using it after consecutive wins.
There are two important pieces of information that you need to know:
- First, the strategy can be used for both in-person and online craps.
- Set up your betting limits to fully benefit from this tactic. Be aware when to stop and leave the table before re-depositing money.
Setting Win and Loss Limits
Most people understand the importance of setting win-loss limits. Unfortunately, they do not know how to implement their ideas.
I recommend applying my strategy: You must stay on the ground since you are playing with a smaller amount of money. If your initial budget is $100, leave the table after going $200 (maximally $250). Get that cash and get back with more money. That automatically gives you more space to risk.
Mental Approach and Discipline
Craps is a source of entertainment, just like any other game. Still, many people get extremely nervous while playing. Those negative emotions can negatively impact the quality of your play. Here is how to approach craps with a high level of discipline.
Staying Patient and Avoiding Impulse Bets
Even today, I lose my nerves after 5 or 6 consecutive strikes. That’s a normal thing. Don’t even try to hide emotions. A more important thing is how to react when that happens. The simplest answer I can give you is — stay patient until you leave the table. Simply put, don’t expect to get something. Accept that the money you have (fortunately, it isn’t big) will disappear.
Crap tables can be like a nightclub; you go there to have fun and pay money for that. Will you get upset tomorrow for spending money on whiskey and other drinks? Well, don’t get nervous if you lose money at the table, and don’t try to cover that money with new wagers!
Taking Advantage of Free Odds
Odds bets come with a house edge of 0%. Yes, you have read it well. This gambling option allows you to make the payout odds and true odds the same. Players are betting on the point established before. In other words, you are taking the odds that the point will be rolled again before 7.
For me, this bet is only a source of fun and nothing else. To be precise, it is a “limited source of entertainment.” Each casino determines how many times you can use this option.
Leveraging Casino Comps and Promotions
There are two types of comps and promotions you can claim, depending on whether you play craps in a brick-and-mortar casino or online.
Brick-and-mortar casinos let you become a member of a player’s club. This brings additional value to your sessions. You have access to free drinks, specialized service by the casino employees, and, in some cases, free play support. Don’t get too excited about it; this won’t happen quickly. You need to show your loyalty over time.
Online casinos provide different sorts of promotions. I have to be honest and say they are mostly focused on slots, blackjack, and roulette. The good news is that most operators reward loyal players with free credits for slots and other deposit bonuses.
Since you have a limited budget, this type of “gift” can be quite meaningful, and so is the information on my how to win at craps page.
And Now?
You now know that winning money at craps with an appropriate strategy is possible, even with a small bankroll. Yes, these strategies are challenging. That’s why I tell all the low-stakes players to work primarily on their self-discipline and patience. After all, it takes time to become a true craps Mastermind, like me.
Don’t hesitate to share with me your top craps strategies in the comments section below. It could inspire us all! Seeking for more tips on how to win at craps in Vegas? My linked guide is there to help you prep for your next trip!