Craps Seven
The Odds: Numbers
The term “Any 7” means a 7 can show with any dice combination (i.e., 1-6, 2-5, or 3-4). The Any 7 is also known as “Big Red” and can be printed on the craps table layout a variety of ways to suit the casino’s preference, such as Any 7, Any Seven, Seven, and Big Red. The Any 7 Bet is a form of craps betting which pays when one of the six dice combinations which total seven is rolled. So, when a player rolls the following combinations of 1-6, 2-5, 3-4, they win their bet. However, when any other combination is rolled they lose. Any 7 wagers are one-roll bets, so there are no repeated rolls. Because the 7 has the greatest number of combinations (six), it is the number that has the potential to come up most often, which is why 7 is the magic number in craps. There are 36 possible number combinations in craps. Here is a chart showing the possible combinations for each number using two die.
Since craps is a game of chance, you need to understand why you have a greater or lesser chance of rolling different numbers. Because you're rolling two dice, your chances of rolling a specific number in craps are determined by the number of die combinations that can add up to that number. For example, 2 can only be rolled with two 1s, but 4 can be rolled with either a 1 and a 3 or two 2s. That means you have twice the chance of rolling a 3 as you do a 2. Because the 7 has the greatest number of combinations (six), it is the number that has the potential to come up most often, which is why 7 is the magic number in craps.
There are 36 possible number combinations in craps. Here is a chart showing the possible combinations for each number using two die.
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From the chart, you can see that the most likely number you'll roll is a 7, followed by the 6 and the 8, then 5 and 9, then 4 and 10, then 3 and 11, and finally (and least likely) the 2 and the 12. This means you'll roll a 7 once out of every six rolls, a 6 or an 8 once out of every 7 to 8 rolls, and so on.
Odds for Each Number
By looking at the possible combinations, the 'true odds' for each number can be established. Knowing the odds in craps is good so you have a feel for the likelihood of one number being rolled before another one (e.g., is the 4 going to be rolled before the 7?).
House Edge
Now, true odds are not what the casino pays you unless you're also betting 'free odds' on top of your main bet. Free odds, which is an additional wager you place with your original line bet, pay true odds so the casino's edge is reduced. (We'll talk more about free odds in Strategies the Winners Use.)
To better explain how the casino edge works, let's take the example of flipping a coin. You have a 50/50 chance of the coin landing on heads, and a 50/50 chance of it landing on tails. If that were a bet on which you were being paid true odds, you would be paid even money. The casino, however, has to have an edge in order to make a profit on the game. So, the payoff for any given bet is less than what true mathematical odds would dictate. For example, on a bet that had true odds of 1:1, you would think that if you bet $1 and win, you would be paid $1 in winnings. But in a casino, depending on the bet, you might only be paid $.96. The difference between the true odds and what they pay you is how they make money -- it's called casino odds.
Another way to better understand casino odds versus true odds is to look at the definition of the casino (or house) edge. WizardOfOdds.com defines it as, 'The ratio of the average loss to the initial bet,' going on to explain that it's based on the original wager rather than the average wager so that players can have an idea of how much they are going to lose when they place a bet. For example, by knowing that the casino has a 1.41 percent edge in craps, you can know that you'll be losing 14.1 cents for every $10 bet.
For charts of odds for all types of bets, visit the Wizard of Odds.com.
On the next page, we'll talk about types of craps bets, their odds and what the casino pays for each.
One of the most iconic casino games in the West has to be craps. Often portrayed in films as having the capacity to draw in a large number of people around the table, craps is certainly a crowd pleaser and both players and observers can have fun with it. Another excellent aspect of craps are the multiple betting options available to players. In fact, the whole table is covered with potential wagers, making this one of the most versatile casino games out there, rivalled only by roulette in the number of available bets.
Furthermore, the wagers come in many shapes and sizes, each with its own odds and payout ratios, thereby, allowing you to make both low- and high-risk plays. In short, craps is able to accommodate any type of gambler and is an overall pleasant experience, both visually and financially.
With that said, we would like to bring your attention to one particular bet type that is often placed by beginner players due to its sheer simplicity. We are talking, of course, about the Any Seven wager. Below, you will find detailed explanations regarding this betting option, including a rundown of the odds and house edge, in addition to other important information.
Any Seven Bet Explained
The Any Seven Bet is quite easy to understand when you think about it. It is a bet on whether or not the next roll of the dice will amount to a combination of seven. This means that any of the six possible dice combinations that form a total of seven will count towards this wager. This is convenient since seven is the most common number to be rolled in a game of craps, giving you a good chance of winning the bet.
This wager is found in the middle of the table, though it is not placed by a player, but rather by the stickman. Moreover, it is commonly announced as “The Big Red”, a nickname that it has acquired over the years.
This is one of the simplest bets in craps and it is accessible to just about anyone. It is also easily understood, giving you the opportunity to get the hang of the game. However, there is much more to this bet that meets the eye. For a more detailed review, look at the next point where we cover the statistical advantage of the casino and comparing the payout to the chances of winning.
Odds and House Edge
Craps Seven
In terms of chances, you will find that the Any Seven is hardly an attractive wager when compared to other potential bets at the craps table. There are several reasons for this and it mostly has to do with the odds of winning and the payout ratios. For starters, there are 36 possible dice combinations at a craps table, while the winning outcomes are six in total – 1-6, 6-1, 2-5, 5-2, 3-4 and 4-3. As a result, the odds of winning this bet are one in six rolls or in other words, 1 to 5. The real-world statistical probability of winning a bet is referred to as true odds. However, they differ from the casino odds – the payout ratio for a given bet.
Craps Seven Eleven
The payout for a winning Any Seven bet is 4 to 1, significantly lower than the true odds. This discrepancy in the odds is known as the house edge and it is the source of income for every casino, both online and land-based. The statistical advantage guarantees that while the house might lose some money in the short term, it will make up for that in the long run. Moreover, this is what makes it viable for a casino to pay out large winnings to particular gamblers and still make a profit, knowing that it will make up the difference from others. It is also where the sayings ‘The house always wins’ and ‘Quit while you’re ahead’ come from.
However, the house edge is a reality of life and it is mostly accepted in the gambling world. The reason why it is a problem with the Any Seven bet is simply due to how wide the gap between the true odds and casino odds is. On average, a casino will keep a few percent of all money gambled at the establishment, usually between 2-3%. Some games, such as blackjack feature a house edge of 0.5%, which is practically nothing, while on the other end of the spectrum we have the likes of American Roulette with a house advantage of 5.27%. But the Any Seven bet on craps goes much further than any other betting option at a given establishment, sporting a house advantage of 16.67%.
This number is calculated by the following formula:
(Odds Against Winning – Casino Odds) * Probability of Winning * 100 = House Edge %
This number represents the percentage of all money that will be lost over the long run by players from placing the Any Seven bet. Basically, for every $100 wagered, $16.67 will be lost over time. Granted, the house edge only comes into effect after thousands of rolls but this bet still represents some of the worst odds in the casino and there are several other craps bets that share the same house edge.
Hopping Sevens Craps
Strategies with the Any Seven Bet
Many gamblers out there like to incorporate betting strategies when playing casino games and the same tactics can be applied to your craps games, even when using the Any Seven Bet. Granted, many of these strategies are better utilized on even money betting options though it is entirely possible to apply them to Any Seven betting.
Martingale System
The Martingale betting system is one of the world’s most popular of its kind and it is applicable across a wide range of casino games. While it is most commonly used on even money wagers, you can also apply it to your Any Seven craps betting. The idea behind the Martingale is simple enough, all you have to do is increase the size of your bet twice fold whenever you lose one. This will allow you to recoup all previous losses as soon as you make a winning wager. However, there is something else that you need to take into account which is that this system can only make back what you lost rather than bring in any additional winnings.
Moreover, the Martingale can have you racking up larger and larger losses quickly if you hit a particularly bad losing streak. It is even possible that you may hit the table limits or simply run out of money to increase your bets. These are all realistic possibilities when using the Martingale, especially when your bet has a 6/36 chance of winning. If you do decide to utilize the Martingale system then also be sure to practice some very disciplined bankroll management.
d’Alembert
The d’Alembert is another betting system that sees a negative progression but this one is much more grounded and will not have you running to an ATM if things go bad quick. The basic principle of the d’Alembert is that you start with a bet of one unit, the value of which you decide for yourself. For every losing bet that you make, simply increase the size of your wager by one unit. After you win, you should reduce your stake, either by a single unit or by as much as you feel necessary.
The beauty of this betting system is that it is much more conservative than the Martingale but it also will help you recoup some losses whenever you hit a bad streak, which all gamblers do at some point. While the risk-reward factor is somewhat dampened with the d’Alembert, the chance that you will hit the table limits before scoring a win is also significantly reduced. This makes it a favorite in the gambling world and players from all over the globe implement it in their gaming. Though you should still be mindful of the table limits and should still have the impulse control to stop when the situation calls for it.
Oscar’s Grind
A system primarily used on roulette, the Oscar’s Grind has only recently entered the casino mainstream. Despite that is has already acquired a significant user base and you will find many gamblers applying it to their betting patterns. It is also applicable to non-even money wagers, making it viable for the Any Seven on craps.
Craps Seven Count
The premise of the system relies on cycles where you bet a single unit until you score a win. After which, you increase the size of your stake again by a single unit and continue betting until you achieve a profit of one unit. Whenever you make this small profit, simply cut the cycle and start again.
While this is not realistically feasible, it does mean that this system can be profitable for you, given the right conditions. The negatives of the Oscar’s Grind is that you continue placing the same bet until you win and will only see the small profit after a little while. One could argue that this betting system offers too little profit for the risk but risk is an inherent part of the gambling experience. We are certain that with a little disciple and bankroll management, you could see some good results with this system.
Is the Any Seven Bet Worth It?
Now comes the question of whether or not the Any Seven bet is worth placing. Based on the above-detailed calculations, it is easy to come to the conclusion that this bet is not very worthwhile and that will not be far from the truth. The house edge is simply outrageous regardless of what standard you hold. Even the highest house edge in traditional roulette variations does not come close to that of the Any Seven wager.
The payout of this bet does not meet the risk that you take when you make the wager. A 16.67% difference between the two is ridiculously high and you should seriously consider placing different bets. Of course, if you do end up betting on Any Seven, doing it once or twice will hardly bankrupt you. However, if you have not won after the third consecutive bet it is recommended that you drop this wager in favor of another. There are plenty of betting options in craps that have much better payout ratios and feature much lower house advantage percentages. The Odds and Laying the Odds betting options are only two examples of bets with no house edge and there are many more available in craps that do not even exceed 1%, as far as casino advantage is concerned. This is an opinion shared by many professional gamblers and gambling pundits alike.
Craps Number Seven
Conclusion
Seven Craps Bet
Having covered all of the points above, the conclusion regarding the Any Seven wager is clear. This bet is clearly a bad deal, considering the incredibly high house edge of 16.67% and the overall risk involved with it. While the Any Seven does offer a higher payout than the even money wagers, you will end up losing money in the long run. Still, placing a few Any Sevens will not hurt you too much, provided that you manage to win at least one early on. The house edge only affects long-term betting and you can see some success for a short time, but as soon as you overdo it, you will certainly be burned.
Our recommendation is that you stick to other types of bets that offer you better odds and have smaller house advantages. Be sure to check out the other guides to the different betting options of craps featured at our website.