What is the difference between a buy bet and a place bet in online craps?

Both the place bet and the buy bet target the same six numbers — 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 — and both win if your chosen number rolls before a 7. The core question is simply: how does the casino extract its edge from each one?

How place bets work

Place bets can be made on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 at any time after the come-out roll. The dealer places your chips in the numbered squares at the top of the betting area. If the number you have "placed" rolls before a 7, you win; if not, you lose. The house builds its edge into the payout itself. The casino pays slightly less than the true mathematical odds for each number — for example, a place bet on the 6 or 8 pays 7:6 rather than the true 6:5, and a place bet on the 4 or 10 pays 9:5 rather than the true 2:1. The house edge in craps varies based on the different bets available, but the game is among those with some of the lowest house edges in the casino. Some bets, like Pass Line bets, Come bets, Place bets, and Odds bets, have better true odds than others — understanding which ones are more favourable can help you extend your play.

One practical note: place bets are turned off during the come-out roll, unless you request otherwise. In online craps, the software handles this automatically, but you can usually toggle them on if you prefer.

How buy bets work

A buy bet covers the same numbers, but the mechanism is different. Instead of accepting a reduced payout, you pay the casino a commission — typically 5% of your wager — upfront, and in return the bet pays at true mathematical odds. On the 4 or 10, for instance, that means a 2:1 payout rather than the 9:5 you'd get from a place bet. What matters is that the difference between the true odds and payout odds helps the house earn a profit — with a buy bet, the commission replaces that built-in payout gap as the casino's revenue source.

Whether the commission is charged upfront (win or lose) or only on a winning result varies by operator and software version. Keep in mind that payouts are standard but will vary depending on the casino. In online craps, check the game's paytable or help section for the specific commission structure before playing.

Which one actually costs less?

The honest answer is: it depends on the number. Because the place bet payout on the 6 or 8 (7:6) is already very close to true odds, the house edge on those numbers via a place bet is quite low — and a 5% commission on a buy bet can actually cost more in relative terms on those numbers. The buy bet tends to offer a mathematical advantage over the place bet specifically on the 4 and 10, where the place bet payout (9:5) diverges more noticeably from true odds (2:1). On the 5 and 9, the comparison is tighter.

Either way, craps is a game of chance — no skill is required to play, and therefore no strategies will help you win. Each outcome is completely independent of the last. No betting system can beat a casino with a house advantage — they may appear advantageous in the short term, but in the long term, the casino ensures it will win through the house edge.

If you're playing at an Ontario-registered online casino, look for the iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos on the site — their presence confirms the operator is licensed and regulated by the AGCO. Set a session budget before you start, and if gambling ever stops feeling like entertainment, ConnexOntario is available 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600. You can also self-exclude from all Ontario-registered operators at once through BetGuard (betguard.ca).