Testing the Horn Bet in Craps – Is It a Good or Bad Bet?
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The horn bet in craps is a risky play that can lead to huge wins when the dice go your way. But what is the horn bet, and is it a good bet to make in craps?
In this piece, I’ll break down all you need to know about the craps horn bet. I will analyze the wager and explain how to use it effectively. I also recently played a few hands using this betting strategy at an online craps casino, and I’ll detail my experience and results below.
What Is a Horn Bet in Craps?
First things first: What is a horn bet in craps? One of the first things you will notice playing craps is the wide range of betting options available to you. The “horn” bet is one of many unique bets you can make in the classic dice game.
Like the “any 7” wager, a horn bet is a bet on a specific set of numbers. Instead of betting on “7,” the most likely outcome, you are betting on the 4 least likely outcomes in craps. To win a horn bet, the shooter must roll a 2, 3, 11, or 12.
Placing this wager is easy to do. Simply put your chips in the ” HORN ” section or “HORN BET.” It is usually found with the other single-roll bets, such as “any 7,” “any craps,” and others.
The Payout for Horn Bet in Craps
The horn bet is risky because only a few outcomes result in a win. The appeal of these wagers is the high payouts, but you also must accept a high house edge when placing the horn bet.
Here are the possible payouts and the house edge for the horn bet in craps.
| Horn Number | Payout | Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 30:1 | 2.78% | 13.9% |
| 3 | 15:1 | 5.56% | 11.1% |
| 11 | 15:1 | 5.56% | 11.1% |
| 12 | 30:1 | 2.78% | 13.9% |
By placing the horn bet, you are betting on all 4 numbers at once, giving you 6 ways to win. For reference, there are 36 possible outcomes of the dice in craps. If 1 of your numbers wins, the other 3 must lose.
Overall, the horn bet has a house edge of 12.5%, one of the highest of any at the craps table.
Testing the Horn Bet in Craps at Online Casinos
The horn bet in craps is one of the riskiest bets in the game. But does the potential for high payouts make the horn bet worth the risk?
To answer that question, I decided to test the horn bet in online craps. For my experiment, I played 20 rounds of real money craps at a highly-rated casino site, Ignition Casino.
Ignition offers multiple craps games, and I chose their RNG craps table developed by Betsoft. According to the developer, this game has an RTP of 98.64% and a low volatility rating. However, making a risky wager like the horn bet will lower the RTP significantly.
My bankroll for this experiment was $100, and I placed a $5 wager on the horn bet every round while tracking my results. This essentially equals a $1.25 wager on 2, 3, 11, and 12 every round.
With online craps, you do not have to wait for a shooter to establish a point. Many players who make the horn bet will still place a pass-line bet or another low-risk wager to offset their risk.
However, I focused only on the horn bet during my session to minimize variables. With that in mind, I also did not use a betting system like the Labouchere System. Instead, I stuck with a flat betting system to minimize outside influences on the results.
Placing the Craps Horn Bet
This should go without saying, but a 20-round sample size is too small to draw concrete conclusions about any wager. However, it can give players an idea of what to expect when making the horn bet. Here are the results from my experiment with this wager.
Slow Start
- Total rounds: 5
- Total Bet: $25.00
- Total winnings: $0
- Net profit: – $25.00
The initial rounds of my test with the horn bet did not yield any positive results. In my first 5 rounds, the shooter rolled the following numbers:
- 7
- 6
- 6
- 10
- 9
I was $25 in the hole to start my experiment; however, this result was not unexpected because of the unlikelihood of rolling a winning number. Remember, only 6 of the 36 outcomes in craps will win the horn bet. So, despite losing the 5 bets in my session, I pushed forward and hoped my luck would turn around.
Winning in the Middle
- Total rounds: 10
- Total Bet: $50.00
- Total winnings: $98.75
- Net profit: $48.75
The middle 10 bets in my experiment were by far the most successful. I won the horn bet 4 out of 10 times in this period. A 40% win rate for a bet that only has a 16.67% chance of winning is unsustainable in the long term, but these runs can happen.
At $5 per bet, the winnings for a 3 or 11 were $20 even. Outcomes of 2 or 12 paid $38.75, although I did not roll a 12 in my 20 rounds of craps.
Here are the exact results from rounds 6 through 15 of my experience making the horn bet.
- 2, won $38.75
- 8
- 11, won $20
- 5
- 8
- 3, won $20
- 10
- 3, won $20
- 5
- 10
For these 10 bets, I wagered a total of $50 out of my $100 bankroll. In my four wins, I won $98.75, almost enough to cover my entire bankroll for the experiment. The 2 I rolled in round 6 was my most significant win of the session, paying $38.75.
Limping to the Finish Line
- Total rounds: 5
- Total Bet: $25.00
- Total winnings: $20.00
- Net profit: – $5.00
The final 5 rounds of my test with the horn bet in craps went, unfortunately, much like the first 5. I needed just 1 win to cover my bankroll for the entire session. The good news is that I got the win that I needed to secure a profit for the day.
Here are the results from my final 5 rounds of this experiment.
- 6
- 3, won $20
- 10
- 9
- 10
The 3 I rolled in round 17 put me over $100 in total winnings on the day. It was also my fifth win of the session, giving me a 25% win rate with the horn bet in this small sample size.
Is the Horn Bet in Craps Worth It?
I won just 5 of my 20 attempts at the horn bet. However, I also made a slight profit despite losing 75% of my wagers. So, the question remains, is the craps horn bet worth the risk?
The simple answer is that it depends on your preference. If you are a risk-averse player who wants to minimize the house edge as much as possible, then no, the horn bet is not worth the risk.
However, the horn bet could be a good option for players willing to take on additional risk for the chance at big payouts. In small samples, like my experiment above, the payouts can outweigh the house edge. The best way to see if this bet works for you is to try it and see if you enjoy it.
Horn Bet Strategies
The horn bet in craps is risky, and many consider it a “suckers” bet because of the high house edge. So, if you are going to risk your bankroll on this wager, you need to have a strategy for minimizing the inherent risk of the bet.
Here are 3 strategies to help you succeed when making the horn bet in craps.
- Bet the horn every time: This bet has a low chance of winning, but the only way to win is to make it consistently. Some people recommend trying to time your bet, but this method falls into the gambler’s fallacy.
- Have a separate bankroll for side bets: You will lose the horn bet more than you win it. So, to keep it from affecting your other wagers, having a separate bankroll for side wagers like the horn bet is helpful.
- Keep your horn bets small: Craps horn bets are risky and have a low win rate, so you should keep your wagers on this side bet small to minimize your risk.
Should You Play the Horn Bet in Craps?
The horn bet for craps players can be a tempting wager, but is it worth the risk? It is impossible to win the bet consistently over a long session, and the house edge will help the casino in the end.
So, I would avoid it, but players looking to spice up their experience should try the horn bet for themselves. If you accept the increased risk, you will be rewarded with huge payouts now and then. Using casino bonuses can also minimize the risk to your bankroll.
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