Cromwell Craps
The Cromwell Hotel & Casino. If you visited The Strip at any point between 1979 and 2007.
The Cromwell is known for its improved gambling over other Las Vegas Strip casinos. Players will still find $10 3:2 blackjack and $25 single zero roulette. Craps offers 100 times odds. There is one major difference. Answer 1 of 25: During our recent trip, noticed The Cromwell with a $10 table that offered 100x odds? Now obviously I am not playing 100x odds, but the table was pretty good which allowed me to play 5x or 6x odds in situations where I'd normally be allowed 3x. Craps (version 2) - Part 3 of 5: Video for the new Craps tutorials, Sucker Bets. AUG 7 Vegas 2066: Fiction about a reclusive individual fifty years in the future and how the game of craps opens him up to the possibilities in the, 'Real world' JUL 29 Craps (version 2) - Part 2 of 5: Part 2 Video for the new Craps tutorials; View All. A state with gambling age laws Cromwell Craps on the books, you abide by these. While signing up at an offshore site at 18 in While signing up at an offshore site at 18 in a state where the mandated age is 21+ isn’t technically illegal, it’s a bad idea.
Previously known as Barbary Coast and then Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Saloon, The Cromwell has only had its name since 2014. Today, the Cromwell property is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment. This property, which used to be something of a rowdy rundown dump that magnetized the majority of Las Vegas’ dregs, is now a fine little diamond in the rough.
The Cromwell is the smallest casino on the strip that tries to impress its patrons. The floor has a shiny luster to it, and while this isn’t an ultra “high class” casino, it has the look of one. It sits dead in the middle of the action on the corner of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Blvd. If you exit the I-15 onto Flamingo Road, it’s the first place you see as you approach the strip.
Given its location and small size, it brings in a lot of foot traffic that just wants to check it out. This is very much a “party casino” that mainly attracts young tourists because there isn’t a lot to do here besides drink, party, and gamble…. and that’s fine. For what is darkly lit casino that controls the smell of smoke very well, it delivers. It has one of the most popular nightspots and after-hours joints in town, and its table game and video poker payouts can compete with any casino.
The self-parking and valet entrance is in the back of The Cromwell, and you can only get in using Flamingo road. Each service now charges, and your rate depends on your tier status and how long you’re going to be there. To get free self-parking, you need to be a Platinum cardholder in Caesars’ Total Rewards program, which is second from the bottom.
Casino at The Cromwell
[table “” not found /]
After undergoing numerous renovations, the 40,000 square foot gaming space finally looks good. This casino is simply constructed as a rectangle. Despite its smaller space, its table games occur in multiple pits. One up front as you walk in off the strip, and another that is towards the back. We were satisfied with its game selection, and most of them had a $5 minimum.
Baccarat
EZ Baccarat which has no 5% commission on winning banker hands starts at $15. There is also Midi-Baccarat with the Dragon Bonus going next to it for $100.
Blackjack
None of the blackjack tables accepted bets for under $15, but they all paid out 3-2 with the dealer having to hit on soft 17. This is great considering most strip casinos typically pay 6-5. Double deck blackjack is also available, and table minimums are split in $15, $25, $50, and $100. There weren’t any of the blackjack variations, but a virtual blackjack game with a live dealer can be played for $3.
Craps
The Cromwell’s most noteworthy feature is its 100x odds for all its crap games which are either $10 or $15 minimums. Virtual craps is also available for $1.
Roulette
$15 is the minimum for the standard double zero roulette wheel, however, its $25 wheel is European roulette which has just one zero. There is no question this will be the smallest minimum in town for a single zero roulette game.
Other Cromwell Table Games
– High Card Flush ($5 minimum)
– Three Card Poker ($5 minimum)
– Crazy 4 Poker ($5 minimum)
– Mississippi Stud ($5 minimum)
– Ultimate Texas Hold’em ($5 minimum)
– Fortune Pai Gow Poker w/ Progressive ($15 minimum)
This certainly isn’t the largest mixed game selection in town but considering this is a small casino it’s an acceptable amount. This casino floor is usually busy, but both pits won’t be open except during its busiest times. Therefore, there will always be a seat open for your favorite game.
High Limit Table Games Room
The high limit room is privately secluded and has blackjack. Minimums are $100 for either double deck or a full shoe. On double deck, the dealer must still hit on soft 17, and the bettor cannot double down after splitting. On the full shoe, the dealer must stand on soft 17.
We were surprised to see $100 tables were also on the main floor, but we figure that’s to give bettors the option between betting privately or with the crowd.
Slots at The Cromwell
There are 440 slot machines spread up and down the casino. There are penny slots, and betting limits increase gradually till you reach $1. Even though there’s far fewer slots here, the reel slot and video reel sections are marked off which is something you don’t normally see.
A view of the different slots sections room from our last visit:
All of the slot games at Cromwell were modern with plenty of today’s most popular choices. Some of them are Wheel of Fortune, Dragon Link, Buffalo, Britney Spears, and The Walking Dead.
High Limit Slots Room
The red carpeted high limit slots section which is called The Abbey is towards the back of the casino, across from the sportsbook. Here, the lighting is especially dark and the limits are tame, at $1, $5, $10, and $25. It’s mostly comprised of slot machines, but there is also video poker with the same betting limits.
A view of the high limit slots room from our last visit:
Video Poker at The Cromwell
Video poker is available to be played for comped drinks at the bars and are also around the casino floor. Most of them are at the front and depending which game you play betting limits are a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, $1, $2, and $5, with some of its machines advertising payouts of 99.73%. This payout is friendly and hard to compete with, so we definitely recommend The Cromwell for avid video poker players.
Sportsbook at The Cromwell
If you valet your car, the sportsbook will be on your right as you walk in. It is away from the noisy table games and bars and is small, seating only about 30 people. All the chairs are leather and there is a small VIP section. There is no horse racing, but the 20 TVs which include four big screens are of top level picture quality and the sound is also good.
We don’t expect this sportsbook to ever be especially active as avid sports bettors tend to gravitate towards the bigger books, but it probably gets close to full during the biggest events. Otherwise this is a good place to watch a game if you prefer to be away from crowds.
Regarding food, there’s nothing to eat nearby apart from the drug store that’s next to it, but you can order food directly to you here or at any of the bars using mobile dining. Just text LVCROMWELL to the provided phone number to get your order started.
We were hoping drink tickets wouldn’t require more than $50 bets per each one, but they are $100. They claim to have a four-drink maximum, but we have a hard time believing they actually enforce this.
If you wan to bet on the go, you can do it with the Caesars Entertainment sports betting app. All you have to do is open an account right inside the book and this is a fast and free process. Betting on games after they have started, otherwise known as live betting cannot be done at this sportsbook and this is also still on the way for the app.
Hotel at The Cromwell
The Cromwell luxury boutique hotel has 188 rooms, offering 10% discounts to teachers, students, first responders, government employees, and military members. We’ll give you the bad news first. The resort fee after tax is a thick $41.94 per night which you cannot turn down or get waived. It includes Internet for two devices along with pool and fitness center access.
All the rooms are beautifully updated, some of which have strip views. The Cromwell is also a pet friendly for certain rooms. The standard room is 360 square feet, but we advise you do your research before booking. Room rates usually stay between $100-$200 which is of formidable value considering The Cromwell’s location. However, prices drastically fluctuate into the high $200s and sometimes $300s even during the week.
Suites
If you prefer a larger space, there are three suites: The Parlour Suite (723 square feet), Boulevard (1,061 square feet), and Gallery (1,411 square feet). The Parlour generally stays in the $300-$400 range with the Boulevard ranging between $500-$700. The Gallery will be $650 if you’re lucky, with it often being well over $800 and sometimes over $1,200.
There are only so many suites, so don’t wait on booking them as they often sell out especially on weekends. Usually these types of rooms are reserved for VIPs and they still could be, but they seem to be available for purchase more often than most hotels.
Being a small casino, we weren’t surprised there was no spa. On the bright side, its modern fitness center is conveniently open 24/7 and can be accessed with your room key.
Restaurants at The Cromwell
There isn’t much to choose from regarding food, but Eatwell is open 24 hours and is at the front of the casino. It has a variety of drinks along with casual food like pizza, tacos, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and other fun food. They also serve Starbuck’s coffee in the AM.
Fine Dining
The only spot for fine dining is an Italian cuisine called Giada. They are open for dinner only during the week, but also serve brunch until 3 PM on weekends. To go with its classic choices of Italian dishes is an award winning wine selection, and beyond that they have monthly wine series dinners for $200 per person.
Bars at The Cromwell
There are 24/7 video poker bars on the casino floor, but its fancier bars are Bound and the Interlude Casino Lounge. Bound is The Cromwell’s elegant lobby bar. It opens afternoons and features live music every night of the week starting at 9 PM. They also have a small food menu whose offerings also come from Eatwell.
Interlude also opens in the afternoon and has cocktails for $1 during its daily happy hours between 6 PM and 7 PM. The first happy hour is immediately followed by another one, serving $5 cocktails and $3 beers. You can play video poker here, and Interlude also have live music seven nights a week.
Drai’s Nightclub, Beachclub, and After Hours Nightclub
The signature attractions at The Cromwell are its rooftop partying spots of Drai’s Beachclub and Nightclub, and Drai’s After Hours Nightclub.
Drai’s was voted the #1 nightclub by the Las Vegas Review Journal. A cover charge to enter is $20 for women and $30 for men on Thursday and Sunday. On Friday, the split is $30/$50 and $40/$60 on Saturday. Locals get in free with their ID on Sundays, and the nightclub can be enjoyed indoor and outdoors. In each area VIP table and bottle service is available, and on Tuesday’s Drai’s also has a nightswim.
Drai’s Beachclub is above the nightclub. They are open 11 AM – 6 PM Friday to Sunday. Seven Star and Diamond cardholders along with hotel guests get in free, otherwise covers are $20 for women and $30 for men. If you want to party privately with your friends, you can make cabana reservations.
Lastly is Drai’s After Hours. Covers are $25/$35 for men and women, and the club is open from 1 AM – 10 AM every night except Tuesday. This separate lounge is underground and has just been remodeled. There are two different music types to go with its four rooms. It is darkly lit in red, providing a very cool late night vibe.
Even though Las Vegas never closes, there are only so many great places to hang out in overnight. And while Drai’s After Hours and the other clubs certainly require you ante up to be there, you very much get what you pay for. Partygoers and drinkers for all hours of the day: This is your venue.
Related Posts:
Up until a few years ago, the frumpy little Casino Royale – its attached hotel is a Best Western – offered craps players a deal they couldn’t resist. The brightly lit marquee seen above the Casino Royale on the Las Vegas Strip flashed the words “100x Odds on Craps” – yep, you read that correctly.
The independently owned casino right in the heart of Las Vegas Boulevard has always resisted the creeping corporatization, and it doesn’t even charge guests that ghastly “Resort Fee” to pinch pennies. Eventually though, even the Casino Royale did away with its 100x craps tables, opting instead for the watered down 3x-4x-5x structure on the Odds bet that has swept through The Strip like a plague.
But before I get ahead of myself, let me bring the readers who are wondering why this Odds bet is so important up to speed.
How House Edge Applies to Craps
Whether you visit Las Vegas to roll the bones regularly, or find yourself learning craps online through an casino online, knowing how to navigate the maze of available wagers is crucial.
I mean, just get a load of this lengthy list of common craps bets below to get a glimpse into the classic dice game’s complexity:
Payouts and House Edge Rates for Common Craps Bets
BET/RULES | PAYOUT | HOUSE EDGE |
Odds – 4, 10 | 2 to 1 | 0.00 percent |
Odds – 5, 9 | 3 to 2 | 0.00 percent |
Odds – 6, 8 | 6 to 5 | 0.00 percent |
Don’t Pass / Don’t Come | 1 to 1 | 1.36 percent |
Pass / Come | 1 to 1 | 1.41 percent |
Place 6, 8 | 7 to 6 | 1.52 percent |
Field (3:1 on 12) | 1 to 1 | 2.78 percent |
Place 5, 9 | 7 to 5 | 4.00 percent |
Field (2:1 on 12) | 1 to 1 | 5.56 percent |
Place 4, 10 | 9 to 5 | 6.67 percent |
Big 6, 8 | 1 to 1 | 9.09 percent |
Hard 6, 8 | 9 to 1 | 9.09 percent |
Any Craps | 7 to 1 | 11.11 percent |
Hi-Lo (2 or 12) | 15 to 1 | 11.11 percent |
3; Yo-leven (11); Easy hops | 15 to 1 | 11.11 percent |
2; 12; Hard hops | 30 to 1 | 13.89 percent |
Any Seven | 4 to 1 | 16.67 percent |
As you can see, craps bets can largely be divided into two groups – reasonable plays and longshots designed for suckers.
Don’t get me wrong now, I’m prone to splash around on exotic bets like the Any Craps or Hard Way when inspiration strikes – but only occasion.
No, the best craps players out there typically stick to the first half of the list by default, especially that Odds bet which carries no house edge whatsoever.
That’s kind of a misnomer, as you can’t place an Odds bet without first putting up an “ante” of sorts on either the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line. And with those base bets carrying house edge rates of 1.41 percent and 1.36 percent, respectively, you’ll always have a hill to climb even on the 0.00 percent Odds wager.
Here’s how it works… after placing your Pass Line (or Don’t Pass for “dark side” specialists), the shooter will establish a point number more often than not. With a point number now set, the Odds bet allows you to back your base bet up with a second wager that pays out according to true odds (hence the name).
Those true odd payouts – 2 to 1 on points of 4 and 10; 3 to 2 on 5 or 9; and 6 to 5 on 6 or 8 – really do hold a null house edge of 0.00 percent.
And as you might’ve suspected by now, betting as much as you can on the Odds is a great way to lower craps’ overall house edge:
House Edge on Craps Odds Bet (by Odds Limit)
Cromwell 100x Craps
ODDS (TAKEN) | PASS LINE | DON’T PASS |
0x | 1.41 percent | 1.36 percent |
1x | 0.848 percent | 0.682 percent |
2x | 0.606 percent | 0.455 percent |
Full Double Odds | 0.572 percent | 0.431 percent |
3x | 0.471 percent | 0.341 percent |
3x-4x-5x | 0.374 percent | 0.273 percent |
5x | 0.326 percent | 0.227 percent |
10x | 0.184 percent | 0.124 percent |
20x | 0.099 percent | 0.065 percent |
100x | 0.021 percent | 0.014 percent |
See that last entry for 100x on the Odds? With a house edge of just two-tenths of a percent, players who score 100x – you’d be able to bet $1,000 on Odds with a $10 base bet – enjoy some of the best odds in all of casino gambling.
On that note, the following list highlights six casinos on The Strip where sharp craps players can still enjoy high limits on the Odds and other perks.
1 – The Cromwell Hotel & Casino
If you visited The Strip at any point between 1979 and 2007, you know The Cromwell as its previous incarnation Barbary Coast.
The building eventually became Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall, a rough and tumble joint straight out Las Vegas’ glory days.
Bill’s gave way to The Cromwell in 2014, and while the casino resort has blossomed into a full-scale boutique establishment offering the height of luxury, it did retain one element of that gamblin’ spirit – 100x Odds.
Yep, four tables found at the Cromwell offer the only 100x craps still alive and kicking in Las Vegas.
The minimum bet here is a bit higher than the standard at $25 per rolling session, but that’s a small price to pay for the ability to go “all-in” on the best bet in craps.
The Cromwell also caters to sharp gamblers by offering 3 to 2 payouts and double-deck games in blackjack, single-zero European roulette wheels, and commission free EZ baccarat.
2 – Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower
Cromwell Craps Odds
Famous for its “Space Needle” like tower stretching high into The Strip’s skyline, the Stratosphere also has the lowest-stakes craps game around.
You can enjoy 10x Odds – the highest offered on The Strip outside of from The Cromwell – for just a $5 minimum base bet. Folks who like to play a bit bigger will also find a pair of tables with a $10 minimum and 10x Odds.
You’ll also come across a gimmick game known as “Crapsless Craps,” which purports to give players a helping a hand by removing losing outcomes from the come out roll. Instead of “crapping” out on a 2, 3, or 12 on the come out roll, Pass Line bettors in Crapsless Craps simply set those numbers as the point.
But knowledgeable craps players avoid this sucker game at all costs, as it balloons the house edge on Pass Line wagers from 1.41 percent to 5.38 percent.
Cromwell Craps
3 – Bellagio Hotel & Casino
One of the glitziest and most glamorous casinos in the world, let alone The Strip, the Bellagio is a true Las Vegas icon.
The tables here only offer 3x-4x-5x Odds, which lets you bet 3x on points of 4 and 10, 4x on points of 5 or 9, and 5x on points of 6 or 8.
That’s basically the standard on The Strip, aside from The Cromwell and Stratosphere of course, so the Bellagio makes the cut for its sheer beauty and grandeur. Simply put, every gambler should spend at least one day strolling through the Bellagio’s rarified air.
And while you’re there, hit the eight $25 minimum tables or the lone $10 table and let the dice fly.
4 – Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
I always advise my craps playing buddies who are stubborn about The Strip to stay at Bally’s.
Four tables here have a low limit of just $5 and 3x-4x-5x Odds, while higher-rollers can up the ante to $15 on a single table.
5 – Wynn Las Vegas
Combined with its sister casino Encore, the Wynn offers a level of luxury to rival even the Bellagio.
This place is gorgeous inside and out, and the nine craps tables with 3x-4x-5x Odds with limits ranging from $10 to $100 paint a pretty picture too.
Cromwell Craps Lessons
6 – Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino
The $5 limit craps tables with 3x-4x-5x Odds at the Westgate aren’t anything special, but whenever you can dabble in dice before hitting the world’s largest sportsbook (the aptly named SuperBook), no gambler worth their salt would pass up that opportunity.
Conclusion
Craps, like any casino game, comes down to the player’s contributions. If you stick with longshot exotics and let casinos offer bad limits on the Odds bet, the mess you make of your bankroll is your own fault. On the other hand, by searching for the best Odds limits and playing a snug, sensible game, craps on The Strip can still be a profitable proposition when the dice cooperate.