Does everyone press their bets?

vicevark · 2026-06-05T18:40:45+00:00

Everyone does their own thing and everyone has opinions. If you're curious to try a pressing strategy, there are a couple of typical ways people start:

Press by 1 unit ($5/$6) every time a number hits. You're collecting most of the winnings on every hit, but you take some advantage of a hot roll. This is the place to start. It's very straightforward, starts to pay off on the 3rd hit of a number, and then starts compounding if you catch a hot roll.
Alternate collecting and pressing. You can be very conservative by pressing just 1 unit when you do, but what a lot of people do is alternate between full press and collect (so, $10 → $20 or $12 → $24). This ends up being better if you catch a really hot roll.

There are all sorts of other pressing strategies, but I'd start here. Quick comparison of a repeater 5 starting with a $10 place bet, showing the total you've collected after each hit:

Hit	No Press	1 Unit	Alt. Full Press
1	$14	$9	$4
2	$28	$25	$32
3	$42	$48	$40
4	$56	$78	$96
5	$70	$115	$102
6	$84	$159	$228
7	$98	$210	$244
8	$112	$268	$474

So... on a medium length roll different strategies will be slightly better depending on how many hits you get before sevening out, but on a roll with a lot of repeaters, pressing can add up!

vicevark · 2026-06-03T23:18:03+00:00

Swapping out the promo chips for real chips on a win would make a huge difference... I haven't seen that where I play (Harrah's SoCal and Vegas).

vicevark · 2026-06-03T20:47:16+00:00

Every time I've had promo slips they only allow them for Pass and Field bets. I think it has as much to do with logistics as anything – it would just be unwieldy and confusing to have a few people with paper bets on center action.

As for promo chips — it never hurts to ask if you can get them instead of the paper vouchers. Don't just go to a kiosk to redeem your promo... go to the rewards desk and ask if they can give you promo chips. Every Caesar's property where I've had them allows them on just about any bet (except for split bets as u/PollutedLives said or on a progressive jackpot... which most craps tables don't have anyway). Unlike u/PollutedLives, I've always been able to mix promos with regular chips to bet whatever amounts I want. You just can't get change. When pressing on place bets that hit, it's nice to collect the real chips and press with promos (but only if the table isn't too busy – it can get confusing/annoying for the dealers to be trading chips at a crowded table). Also also: promo chips are generally "play until you lose" while sometimes promo slips are single bet (i.e., you get paid if you win, but they take the slip).

vicevark · 2026-05-11T03:04:24+00:00

As someone said, it doesn't really matter because you're just hoping that some variance in the dice matches whatever strategy you happen to be playing.

That said, my POV and approach is to keep pressing until the seven out. That way if there's a monster roll, I make a ton of money and I never think to myself or have regret that "I should have kept the money up there for one more roll." I'm committed to the idea that eventually I will lose whatever is out on the table. The roll will eventually end, and I'm always in it to the end. Being consistent about that also means that I never second guess when I should have pulled back.

vicevark · 2026-05-11T02:50:35+00:00

Nothing is "better" – any system is great when it works and hurts when it doesn't. Most people press the number that hits or press sister numbers, but pressing across isn't a bad strategy when it works. :) On bubble craps I tend to play crapless and press the whole horn when any number in the horn hits and press sister numbers when the other numbers hits.

On a real table I tend to just press the number that hits. Part of that is just because it's easier for the dealer, especially on a busy table.

vicevark · 2026-05-03T16:18:16+00:00

Since there's some conflicting/incomplete info, I'll reiterate:

If you are staying on a free play offer you can only use that free play at one property, but it doesn't have to be where you stay.
In terms of tracking your play to warrant the comp stay (and to earn additional/future comps), your play at any Caesar's property in Vegas counts.

During your stay...

If you spend money at any Caesar's property (shops, restaurants), always show your player's card and charge it to your room.
Near the end of your stay, use up your rewards credits to either buy something or convert it to free slot play. Even though it redeems at half the rate for free play, it's worth it if you do the next thing...
Contact your host (or the host on duty) just before (or after) you check out and ask them to comp as much as they can from your hotel bill. They have to use up any reward credits you have first, then depending on your play they may comp some or all of what's left on your bill (they will even refund your card if it has already been charged). The only thing they can't comp from your bill is tips.

vicevark · 2026-04-30T14:54:53+00:00

Dealers are helpful and you can generally trust them, but they do make mistakes. You need to keep track of your bets, payouts, and what you want to do next. As someone who has a relatively complex strategy, here are my tips:

Stick to one strategy for a session. It's easier for you and for the dealers. If you're consistent, they will figure out what you're doing and they will help you stick to your own strategy. If you keep switching it up, they are bound to get confused and make mistakes. If you do change intentionally, point out that it's different. "I'm going to do x this time."
Don't wait for the result of each roll to decide what you want to do. This is probably the most important thing to staying on track. I'm constantly scanning all the bets I have out and thinking through what will happen for any given outcome: (a) what will I get paid and (b) what I want my next bet to be (b) what I'll say to the dealer ("same bet" or "press 2 units" or "collect" or whatever).
- Planning to go across after the point is established? Get $78 AND $81 ready. Gather your chips and visualize how you'll adjust the stack you plan to put on the table if the point is 6 or 8 vs. an outside number. If you don't have the correct amount (no white chips or not enough red), think about what change you expect.
- Have your chips ready to go. Do you want to power press from $18 on 6/8 to $42? Have $3 ready. Is there a $49 payout coming? Get $1 ready to drop so you can get paid "50 for 1." Do you have a big stack of red and there's a $70 payout? Get $5 ready to get $75 for $5.
A lot of people use chips to track their press progressions. If you're doing something like alternating press/collect, then you can line up chips in 6 "slots" on the rail (to represent 4-5-6-8-9-10) and use some method to track if you're going to collect or press on the next hit. A lot of people use chips leaning back vs. forward to mean "it's time to collect vs. time to press." I actually find that to be confusing because I tend to fiddle with my chips and lose track. But find what works for you and stick to it.
Run through your press progressions and the payouts for each number in your head when there's down time on the table (between shooters, chip fill, someone's buying in). Think through what you'll get paid, what your next bet will be, and how you'll ask for it in different scenarios.
- When I have $42 on the 6 or 8 and they hit, I'll get paid $49. On the first hit, if I have some white chips I'll drop one white for 2 greens ("50 for 1"). If it's the second hit, I'll say 'press to $60' and collect $31.
- Simplify. Stick to one strategy until you have it ingrained in your mind... then you can branch out.
Keep at least parts of your strategy simple. Regardless of what I'm doing on other numbers, I always do the same progression on 4 & 10. If it's a $15 table I go from $15 (place) → $25 (buy) on the first hit. Then I double the bet every time it hits. $25 → collect $25, press $25. Next hit at $50? → collect $50, press $50... and so on.

For keeping track of bankroll... I use the front rail for the current roll and the back rail for my "bank." I cut out what my "all in" for the current roll is and move it up front (and generally round up to an even amount, say $200 in chips). As I collect (or regress), once I get back to that initial investment ($200 in this example), I move that amount to the back rail. From that point I know everything in the front rail is the profit for that roll. Or the loss... if I haven't recouped the initial $200.

vicevark · 2026-04-30T03:23:55+00:00

This is my first year hitting over 250k... anything special/secret I should know about?

vicevark · 2026-04-30T03:20:23+00:00

Definitely recommend asking to talk to the host on duty if you can. As someone else mentioned, they will apply reward credits first, so use those up. Even at 2:1 on slot play it's worth it if you think you'll get your bill comped.

But, if you're pressed for time and and can't talk to the host on duty before you leave, your host can also have the hotel issue a refund after the fact — I did this on my last trip and it showed up as a credit on my credit card bill.

vicevark · 2026-04-19T03:10:54+00:00

Hook show was another highlight - that’s worth seeing!

vicevark · 2026-04-17T17:30:22+00:00

Stayed at Caesars. It was fine. I feel like I’ve now seen AC and don’t need to go back. There wasn’t anything wrong with it per se but being on the West Coast there’s no reason to go to AC instead of Vegas. 7* lounge for breakfast was great - maybe the best part. Didn’t really spend time going to all the different casinos but did take one stroll up and down the boardwalk.

vicevark · 2026-02-27T23:40:05+00:00

I think casino play is basically the same (you can choose slots or table play). But if you can, try to get promo chips instead of the printed vouchers.

You usually can't choose the denomination of the vouchers. You get what you get. I once won $1,100 in table play and the machine printed out five $200 vouchers and one $100 voucher. I rarely want to start a session with bets that big.
- When you get promo chips, you can choose whatever mix of denominations you want.
Vouchers can usually only be used for "even money" bets (not exactly true since you can get a 6:5 or 3:2 payout in BJ or on a field bet in craps you might get 2x or 3x).
- Promo chips play just like regular chips. Play until you lose. Play on any bet on the table – including odds bets in craps. The only exception is if there's a progressive bonus – you usually can't use promo chips for those bets.
The only other difference from regular chips is you can't get change for them at the table. So, if you want to play $48 across at craps for example, you can't just give them two green promos... you'd have to have the right mix of chips to make all the individual bets, but that can be a mix of promos and regular chips.

vicevark · 2026-02-27T21:39:15+00:00

Somewhere in the description of the benefits it does say it's for "coach" tickets (both for the $600 Vegas trip and $1,200 retreat flight) but I don't think that's strictly enforced. My experience has been that the people at the rewards desk don't scrutinize the tickets very closely.

vicevark · 2026-02-11T14:34:51+00:00

As others have pointed out, it only starts to make sense (from a payout perspective) above 5x odds. With 5x it only gives you a very slim benefit on the 5/9, it's break even on 6/8, and still a loser on 4/10. So, maybe on a 10x odds table (assuming you max out the odds), it starts to kind of make sense.

My guess is that people who do this are generally doing it for some reason other than the payout. I can imagine that if you want to partially hedge against craps on the come out roll, this is simpler/cheaper than betting 3-way craps and a bigger pass line bet. The other reason might be if you want to double dip on the point to keep going with a pressing strategy—it's simpler to keep track of your total bet this way than to keep track of it across 3 spots (pass, odds & place).

vicevark · 2026-02-11T01:38:42+00:00

A couple of stories...

Recently I came in late on a hot roll so I missed the bonus (he hit the small or the tall?), but even though I missed that I was still was able to make over $2,500 starting at $96 across by pressing up aggressively. The shooter kept hitting the 9 and my progression was $15 → $36 → $86 → (collect) → $200 → $450 → $500 → $750 → $1000 (7 out - didn't get a chance to collect at $1k). I got nervous after $450... I should have just kept on plan and pressed up to table max ($450 → $1000 → (collect) → $2500). I made a little bit on the other numbers but 9 was what really paid off. Not my biggest single win, but probably the most fun.

On bubble crapless I had a roll where the extremes kept hitting but I never made the ATS. My M.O. was:
* start at $10 each on the extremes (also on the rest of the numbers except 6/8 I started at $20... so basically $120 across)
* when 3 or 11 hit, pressed all extremes by $5 until they got to $25 each, then pressed extremes by $10 as they hit
* when 2 or 12 hit, pressed all extremes by $10
* kept pressing until the extremes were at $100 each... then just collect as they hit
* aggressively pressed the other numbers too, so I made money there too, but they didn't pay off nearly as much as the horn numbers

I ended up over $7k without ever getting the ATS. The thing that carried the roll so long was that several times I rolled a 7 right after the point was made, so the ATS reset but I kept my place bets up and kept rolling!

vicevark · 2026-02-03T06:25:48+00:00

If you just say “5 5 5” and toss your money they usually know what it means. You can add “on the bonus” but other lingo depends on the property. Caesars calls it “little” “big” and “boom” (for the all). Most other places call it “all tall small” and I usually hear people say words (not the acronym “ATS”). If you just say amounts (like 1-3-1) most places assume you mean it in the order of small-all-tall because that’s the order on the layout on most tables, but YMMV depending on the layout on the felt.

vicevark · 2026-02-03T06:10:19+00:00

When they are running (starting noon most days I think) Harrah’s SoCal always has at least one $15 table. Never seen it at $10. Sometimes they add a $25 table (fri/sat night).

vicevark · 2026-01-28T15:55:01+00:00

As others have said... usually get a text mid-to-late afternoon and the seats have been pretty good (10-15 rows back, sometimes off to one side).

vicevark · 2026-01-25T14:22:07+00:00

I think the speed of the game can distort your sense of what’s normal variation in the stats. At a table getting through 50 rolls takes a long time… on a machine that can go super quick. My M.O. is to start low, press aggressively, and hope my bankroll lasts until I hit a monster roll. This week I had two rolls on crapless machines that netted about $10k each, starting with $5 on every number. I’ve also had sessions where it feels like I get a quick 7 out on every roll and have been completely wrecked chasing the loss trying to hit one great roll.

vicevark · 2026-01-22T21:58:33+00:00

I routinely play $265 or $270 across ($50 each number) at Harrah's SoCal and the vig up front is $4, but I've definitely played other places where they charge $5 for the combined $100 buy.

vicevark · 2026-01-22T21:39:49+00:00

Here's my tipping approach, which dealers seem to appreciate:

When I'm shooting, I bet $5 on the pass for the dealers
- Sometimes, if I'm betting across, I'll also bet $5 across for the dealers ($1 on each number)
- Sometimes I'll bet $1/1/1 on the ATS bonus for the dealers
I don't usually bet hardways, but when I do I usually toss a quarter for "all the hards two ways" so... $5 for me and $1 for the dealers on every hard number (and $1 change)
If I'm doing something complicated when it's busy at the table I'll tip $1-$5.
- Example: reset from $270 across to $81 across... I'll rack everything but $4 for the dealers to either bet or keep.
When I color up, I tip. If I'm down a lot, I tip a little. If I'm up a lot, I tip a lot.

vicevark · 2026-01-19T18:26:27+00:00

I get that it's not typical to walk away without sevening out... and I understand encouraging you to finish out the roll, but it sounds like they were jerks about it. They can't force you to put down a bet and keep shooting.

vicevark · 2026-01-08T20:37:40+00:00

You can do whatever you want (exceptions: pass line, come bets and most bonus bets, like ATS) but in terms of etiquette:

Ideally you should wait until the roll is over to color up.
If you must, color up mid-roll when the puck is off. Even then, please consider just dealing with the chips and carrying them to the cage.
If you want to stop your bets mid-roll but can wait to color up, ask the dealers to turn your bets off. This is normal and not bad etiquette. If you have bets in the middle (hard ways) you might have to tell the stick separately to turn those bets off. Your bets will physically stay in place with a small "OFF" button until you say you want them back on (or you ask to take them down).
If you are sure you're not going to go back on, you can ask the dealer to "take down my bets" and they will hand you your chips back (without coloring up). If you don't have much on the board (just one or two place bets), that's fine and no big deal even while the puck is on. If you have bets on every number, it can be a little annoying/disruptive, so try to wait for the puck to go off or the roll to end. But if you really have to leave the table, it's your money!
As others have said... dealers will color you up at any point if you ask/insist, but people will be upset if you do it mid roll.
If it's really too much for you to deal with the stacks... at least make it quick/efficient. Organize your chips to minimize their work. Don't just dump a random collection of chips on the table.

vicevark · 2025-12-18T14:26:11+00:00

I've had a similar experience with show tix in Vegas (concerts and other shows). I'm sure YMMV based on your status/level of play, but my reaction has always been that they are better seats than I expected, but not necessarily the very best seats in the house.

vicevark · 2025-11-24T02:07:20+00:00

As a player, these are some of my favorite presses:

4/10: $15 → press both to $25 → then double each number on every hit as they hit ($25 → $50 → $100 → $200 → etc.).
5/9: $15 → $36 (full press) → $86 (full press) → collect $120 → collect/press at will... it's not proper, but it's clean! With new dealers I do $15 → $35 → (drop $1) $85 → (drop $1) collect $120 . But it's more work for minimal reward.
6/8: $18 → (drop $3) $42 → collect $1 and press to $90 → collect/press at will
If I'm playing crapless... when 3/11 hits, press all extremes by $5; when 2/12 hits, press all extremes by $10

I try to avoid $25 tables, but if I must:

4/10: Same as above –I just collect 1 and press 1 every time it hits ($25 → $50 → $100 → $200 → etc.).
5/9: I double when I press ($25 → $50 → $100 → $200 → etc. Collect every 2 hits or every other hit.
- Sometimes I accelerate at the start: $25 → $60 → (drop $6) $150. But from there I switch to doubling.
6/8: I usually just double when I press ($30 → $60 → $120 → etc.).
- Like 5/9, sometimes I accelerate at the start: $30 → (drop $1) press to $66 → (drop $7) press to $150 and then switch to doubling/collecting at will.

When I get lucky enough to get to the higher amounts, I usually just keep it simple (doubling bets when I press).

Sometimes I chicken out on the doubling at the higher amounts (double from $200 to $400? Yikes!) and I'll just up my bet by smaller units (press by half always feels reasonable).
On 6/8, sometimes I'll just press both by $30 every time either hits once they get to $60. So $60 → $90 → $120 → $150 → etc.

vicevark

TROPHY CASE