You could get a payout like no other on the table by making the optional Fire Bet in craps if it is available where you play. Master this bet with pro player Bill Collins.
The Fire Bet offers the kind of payoff that craps players dream about winning and plays to their greed and desire to win big money quickly.
It’s almost impossible to get over a 30-to-1 payout on the craps table, but, if you are betting a Fire Bet and a hot roller gets the dice and establishes and makes all six different point numbers, 4 through 10, before they 7-out, your Fire Bet turns your $1 bet into a cool $1,000.
To cash in on a Fire Bet, the shooter must establish and make at least four different point numbers before the end of his turn shooting.
Winning the same point more than once does not advance the effort to win the Fire Bet.
The Fire Bet is lost if the shooter does not make it to the benchmark of winning at least four different point numbers.
The Fire Bet aims to give the bettor a long shot at winning a huge payout quickly on one shooter. It is intended to add excitement to the game for the bettor and to make extra money for the casino by getting him to add an additional long shot, seldom won wager.
The Fire Bet differs from other craps bets by tempting the bettor to make a long-shot bet in exchange for an opportunity to win a lot of money all at once.
For example
You place a $5 Fire bet. If the shooter manages to set and make four different unique points, and then rolls a 7 without making any additional unique points, the bettor will be paid $125.
However, the original $5 bet remains on the table because the payoff is calculated at a ratio of 25 for 1, rather than being a true 25-to-1 odds bet.
It's important to note that the payout does not occur immediately when the shooter hits the fourth unique point. The bettor still has the opportunity to receive an even higher payout if the shooter makes a fifth or even sixth unique point. The actual payout is determined only after the shooter's turn ends, allowing the bettor to receive the appropriate payout once the four-point threshold has been reached or surpassed.
The Fire Bet is a side bet (similar to the Repeater bet) you make at the start of a shooter’s turn by putting your bet on the Fire Bet symbol behind the pass line on the craps table in front of you.
You can even remove your Fire Bet any time up until the shooter’s first point number is established, but once that first point is established, the Fire Bet must remain in place until it is either won or lost because, at that point, it becomes a contract bet.
If the shooter has difficulty establishing his first point number, that might be a sign for you to remove your Fire Bet.
Please note
Most casinos require a pass line bet to place the Fire Bet. However, there are certain casinos where you can place the Fire Bets on other shooters without making a pass line. If you try to make a Fire Bet without a Pass Line and it is not allowed, the dealer will quickly inform you of that casino's individual rules.
At the end of the turn shooting, if no points are won, one point won, two different point numbers won, or three others won, all lose your Fire Bet.
This is what happens most often and how the casino turns a profit by offering the Fire Bet.
Four all different point numbers made, you get a payout of 24-for-1 at most casinos that offer the Fire Bet. On average, you can expect to achieve this level of payoff 0.008798% of the time wagered. Less than one percent of your wagers can be expected to win this smallest Fire Bet payoff.
Five all different point numbers made pays 249-for-1 at most casinos. On average, you can expect to achieve this level of payoff 0.001640% of the time wagered.
Six all different point numbers won pays 999-for-1 at most casinos. On average, you can expect to achieve this level of payoff 0.000162% of the time wagered.
I credit Michael Shackelford, the gambling odds guru, with these percentage calculations.
The Fire Bet carries a high house advantage of 20.8% and, therefore, you should avoid betting it frequently.
If and when you make a Fire bet, just consider that doing so will add excitement to your game should a long roll happen on that shooter’s turn, but you should also expect to lose almost all Fire Bets made.
Bankroll management is essential when considering high-risk bets. It’s wise to set aside a tiny portion of your bankroll for such bets and not exceed that amount on those bets.
That leaves the bulk of your buy-in for more efficient and frequently won bets that usually decide whether your session is a win or a loss.
My opinion
The Fire Bet is best Reserved for when a table is totally on fire with long rolls being rolled by multiple shooters.
Conclusion
Different casinos may offer different payouts on the Fire Bet, but they all carry a higher house advantage than any other bet.
That will probably scare off players looking for the lowest house advantage bets to make, but under the right conditions, like a really hot table, it might be worth a bet or two to grab that golden rink when it pays off for you. Still, I highly recommend mastering some simpler bets before aiming for the higher-risk ones.
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Bill Collins
Professional Craps Player
About Bill Collins
Author of the craps novel, "Vegas Fever";
20+ years of successful craps experience, consistently winning since 2003;
Professional writer of Craps guides, with numerous articles published;
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