Part I: Games & Gaming · Dice Games — Craps & Sic Bo

Buy Bet

Craps

A wager similar to a place bet but with true odds payouts, requiring the player to pay a 5% commission (vigorish or “vig”) on the bet amount. Buy bets can be placed on any box number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) and win if that number is rolled before a seven. The commission is typically charged at the time the bet is made, though some casinos charge only on winning bets. Buy bets on 4 and 10 are popular because the true odds (2:1) provide a lower house edge than place bets on those numbers (6.67%). The house edge on buy bets varies by number and commission structure but generally ranges from approximately 1.5% to 5%.

In practice

Not all casinos offer buy bets on all numbers; some only allow buys on 4 and 10. Dealers must clearly announce buy bets to the boxman and record the commission properly.

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.