Heavy's Axis Power Craps Forum

This discussion was happening in another group and I thought we might get some interesting answers here.

Every week, my local casino gives me "free bets" that I can only use for even money payouts. Given that "even money payouts" requirement, how do you play your free paper?

A few common options:
- Pass Line/Come
- Don't Pass/DC
- Field
- BIG 6/8
- I've seen someone PUT numbers for the even payout.
- Anything else?

Do you bet it all on one bet - or use minimum bets until it's gone? Just curious...

- Chris

depends on table minimums and how i am feeling. Several times in Biloxi at the Hard rock before i was used to their tables and the minimums were $25 i would use them on the DP to hedge my place bets. Once i got a few hits if i felt like i was on I would usually place the number. the free bet helped me relax with the higher than i was used to place bets.

I usually just bet it for the dealers on the pass line but if you're looking for your easiest return I'd guess field or just put it on something you'd normally bet on your own like Pass or DP. It's a free shot at something you were gonna bet anyway right? Take the decreased risk.

I use it on the pass line when I'm shooting, or another good shooter.

Pass line, one at a time for me. And only on my hands.

Good Q chuckindice

"Do you bet it all on one bet - or use minimum bets until it's gone?

I like to wager an amount closest to my typical wager size(or base unit), as that is the wager size I lose the most often. Only on my shooting so I can focus on that bet. I would be in favor of wagering all at once vs dividing into minimum bets.


All the best,

When I get free play offers they ask if you want "match play" or "my cash'. You get two dollars of food value for every one dollar of points. So a $20.00 table match play or $40.00 food.......

I'd take the FP every time. You should be getting comps for food just for playing anyway.

If they give me a choice of breaking the free play down into smaller denominations I do that. For example, if I have $200 in Free Play and I can get eight $25 tickets that's preferable to me than a single $200 play. I'll usually use the $25 tickets as my DP play for OHCM strategy, with $24 each on the Six and Eight. After one hit on the Six or Eight I press the second hit on either to $42 on that number and lock up an additional $10. Then it's off to the moon from there. That's on other shooters. If I'm shooting I'll use them as Pass Line Bets and take higher than normal odds. It allows me to put an additional $25 on odds without digging into my bankroll for the additional odds. I make my usual plays on Place Bets. I focus on point shooting and trying to win every one of my Line Bets. If the longer hands come - they come. Since I have specific sets for every point number, I can switch sets with a high level of confidence that things will go well for me. They don't always, but I suspect I win more than the average bear on those free play tickets. I recall one morning at Palace Station a few years back when I had ten free plays and won every one of them. The dealer just kept shaking his head, saying "this just isn't supposed to happen." I laughed, finished up playing all of the Free Play coupons, cashed out and called it a session.

The ones here in this area are called "match play". You have to place the same amount down with the coupon . They want it placed on the PL or DP line. I have never seen anyone play them on any other bet. I also have never seen a coupon that can be played by itself.

midgetcoach wrote: ↑Thu Aug 25, 2022 12:57 pm The ones here in this area are called "match play". You have to place the same amount down with the coupon . They want it placed on the PL or DP line. I have never seen anyone play them on any other bet. I also have never seen a coupon that can be played by itself.

Interesting. I've never seen that kind of "paper." My local lets you place the paper on any even-money bet on the table, as long as it meets the table minimum requirement. So if I have a $5 free play paper, I have to add $5 (two papers or a $5 chip) to make the min.

I like to put the FP on the DP, with a World Bet and use my 11/12 Horn Set. If a point is set, then its OHCM time and I switch to my best 6/8 set until the third hit, then I place the point and get ready to spread out. Sometimes I'll add a Come and Field right after the point is set - when I do that I stick with that horn set and hop the fives for maybe two rolls. There's other variations, bottom line, its insure for my action and reduces my risk, DN8R

Good craps use of this coupon:
- Pass Line/Come Best choice of listed options in my book, especially if the coupon allows more odds be placed.
- Don't Pass/DC The Wizard said that using it as laying odds on DP/DC is the best use as long as it satisfies the 'even money rule' but may require a couple dollars to prevent chiseling.

Poor craps use of this coupon:
- Field Would be ok, but losing the double-triple payout on 2/12 makes it a bad bet.
- BIG 6/8 high house edge
- I've seen someone PUT numbers for the even payout. High house edge on the bet, no house edge on the odds; pass unless they allow 10-20x odds (then check the math.)
- Anything else? Nothing on the craps table if it requires even money payout, banker bet in commission free baccarat is a better choice than roulette/blackjack, as long as coupon is retained on pushes. Blackjack is good if it has surrender and coupon is retained on surrender (unlikely.)