The Fire Bet is a craps side bet that pays if one shooter makes multiple different point numbers before sevening out. It usually needs at least four unique points made to pay. Pay tables vary heavily, and published analyses show house edges often above 20%, so the bet is a lottery-style side wager.
Quick Facts
- Fire Bet is tied to one shooter’s hand.
- It tracks unique points made: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
- Repeating the same point usually does not add a new Fire Bet number.
- Many versions start paying at four unique points.
- Pay tables vary by casino and version.
- It is much higher variance than normal line or place betting.
- The house edge can be very high, often 20%+ depending on the pay table.
Plain Talk
The Fire Bet is not a normal craps bet. It does not care whether your Pass Line wins once. It cares whether the shooter can establish and make several different point numbers before the seven-out.
The six possible point numbers are:
| Point Number | Counts Toward Fire Bet? |
|---|---|
| 4 | Yes |
| 5 | Yes |
| 6 | Yes |
| 8 | Yes |
| 9 | Yes |
| 10 | Yes |
If the shooter makes 6, then 6 again, that is still one unique point for Fire Bet purposes. If the shooter makes 6, then 9, then 5, that is three unique points.
The Wizard of Odds Fire Bet analysis shows several pay tables with high house edges, including examples above 20%. The Wizard of Odds craps basics gives the underlying point and roll structure, and the Wizard of Odds dice probability page explains the 36-combination base behind every point resolution.
This page is about Fire Bet. For newer feature-style side bets, read All Tall Small Bet and Repeater Bets.
How It Works
Fire Bet is usually made before a new shooter begins. Once the shooter has the dice, the bet tracks that shooter’s completed points.
A simplified flow:
- A new shooter begins.
- Player places Fire Bet before the shooter’s hand starts.
- Shooter establishes a point, such as 6.
- Shooter makes the 6 before rolling 7.
- Fire Bet records 6 as one unique point made.
- Shooter continues with a new come-out roll.
- The process repeats until the shooter seven-outs.
- Final Fire Bet payout depends on how many unique points were made.
A sample pay table might look like this:
| Unique Points Made | Example Payout |
|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2, or 3 | Loses |
| 4 | 24:1 |
| 5 | 249:1 |
| 6 | 999:1 |
Other pay tables use different numbers. Some pay less on four points and more on six. Always read the posted layout.
Craps Table Example
You make a $5 Fire Bet before a new shooter starts.
The shooter’s hand goes like this:
| Sequence | Result | Fire Bet Count |
|---|---|---|
| Point 6 made | Unique point | 1 |
| Point 8 made | Unique point | 2 |
| Point 6 made again | Repeat, not new | 2 |
| Point 5 made | Unique point | 3 |
| Point 10 made | Unique point | 4 |
| Seven-out | Shooter ends | Final count: 4 |
If the table pays 24:1 for four unique points, your $5 Fire Bet wins $120 profit. If the shooter had sevened out after only three unique points, the bet would lose.
The key detail: repeating 6 did not move the count from two to three. Fire Bet wants distinct point numbers.
From the Casino Side:
Fire Bet creates tracking work. The dealer team must know whether the bet is active, which players have it, and which unique points the shooter has completed.
The boxman or floor may use markers, lammer positions, or layout indicators depending on the table design. The game must track unique points accurately because the difference between three and four points can decide a payout.
Surveillance cares about the start of the shooter’s hand, whether the Fire Bet was accepted in time, the sequence of points made, and the final payout. A dispute can involve multiple rolls, not just one result.
For the casino, the bet adds excitement without changing the core negative expectation. It also creates a jackpot-style sweat on long rolls, which can make the table louder and slower.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking every point made counts, even repeats.
- Placing the bet after the shooter has already started.
- Assuming all Fire Bet pay tables are the same.
- Forgetting that three unique points often still loses.
- Believing a hot shooter changes the long-term house edge.
- Comparing the top payout without checking the lower payout tiers.
- Treating Fire Bet as a hedge for normal craps bets.
Hard Truth
Fire Bet turns a great roll into a lottery ticket. The story is exciting. The pay table is where the casino gets paid.
FAQ
What is the Fire Bet in craps?
It is a side bet that pays when one shooter makes several different point numbers before sevening out.
Which numbers count for Fire Bet?
The standard point numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
Do repeated points count again?
Usually no. Fire Bet normally counts unique point numbers, not total point wins.
When do I make the Fire Bet?
Usually before a new shooter starts. Late Fire Bets are generally not allowed once the hand is underway.
What does Fire Bet pay?
It depends on the pay table. Some versions pay for four, five, or six unique points, with large top payouts.
Is Fire Bet a good bet?
No, not mathematically. It is a high-variance side bet with a high house edge on many pay tables.
Is Fire Bet still common?
Availability varies. Some casinos offer it, some removed it, and others use different feature bets such as All Tall Small.
Deeper Insight
The Fire Bet is seductive because it attaches to a real craps event: the long hand. Every experienced craps player remembers a shooter who seemed to make point after point. The side bet monetizes that memory.
But long hands are not the same as profitable side bets.
A shooter can have a strong hand and still make only two or three unique points. A shooter can repeat the same point several times, making Pass Line players happy while doing little for Fire Bet. A shooter can also establish a new point and seven-out immediately.
Published analysis matters because the pay table drives the edge. The top prize looks massive, but the probability of making all six unique points before seven-out is tiny. If the lower tiers are stingy, the house edge climbs quickly.
A simplified way to think about it:
| Player Sees | Math Sees |
|---|---|
| Long shooter | Sequence of point cycles |
| Repeated points | Often no extra Fire Bet progress |
| Big top payout | Very rare outcome |
| Crowd excitement | High variance |
| “Only $5” | High edge multiplied over many shooters |
Fire Bet is not a replacement for craps odds or low-edge betting. It is a separate feature bet with its own price.
Formula / Calculation
Expected Loss = Total Amount Wagered × House Edge
If a Fire Bet pay table has a 24.86% house edge and you make $5 Fire Bets on 20 shooters:
Total Amount Wagered = $5 × 20 = $100
Expected Loss = $100 × 24.86%
Expected Loss = $24.86
House Edge = -Player EV / Initial Stake
If a $5 Fire Bet has expected value of -$1.243:
House Edge = $1.243 / $5 = 24.86%
Formula Explanation in Plain English
The Fire Bet may sit quietly for a long time, then suddenly create a big sweat. But the average cost is driven by the pay table. If the posted math gives the casino about a quarter of every dollar in long-term expectation, a $5 bet is not “just five dollars” after enough shooters.
Related Reading
Use the craps guide and craps odds to understand the base game before adding feature bets. Compare Fire Bet with All Tall Small Bet and Repeater Bets. For cost, read craps house edge and use the expected loss calculator or house edge calculator. If long rolls make you believe a shooter has special control, read dice control myth and why betting systems fail.